Google has expanded the capabilities of its AI-powered Ask Maps experience by introducing new agentic features that allow users to order food, discover hotels and events, and manage travel-related tasks without leaving the Google Maps app. The update marks another step in Google's broader strategy of embedding AI agents into everyday consumer services to perform multi-step tasks instead of simply responding to queries.
The latest features enable users to place food orders using conversational prompts. For example, users can ask Maps to find a specific dish that matches their dietary preferences and pickup route. The AI identifies suitable restaurants, selects matching menu items and adds them to the cart before users complete the final checkout. Google said the feature is launching with restaurant partners including Square and Toast, while support for Uber Eats will be introduced later.
Google has also expanded Ask Maps beyond restaurant discovery. Users can now search for hotels based on personalised requirements, such as proximity to gyms, restaurants or attractions, as well as browse local events through natural language conversations. Instead of manually filtering listings, users can describe what they are looking for and receive AI-generated recommendations tailored to their preferences.
Another addition is Personal Intelligence, a Gemini-powered capability that personalises recommendations using information from other Google services. With user consent, Ask Maps can connect to Gmail to consider existing travel plans, reservations or itineraries while generating responses. Google said support for additional applications, including Calendar, will be introduced in the future. The company noted that Gmail integration remains optional and is disabled by default.
Google has also introduced conversational contributions within Maps. Instead of navigating multiple menus, users can now update business information using natural language. They can upload storefront photographs, report changes such as revised opening hours and confirm AI-generated suggestions before they are submitted to Google Maps.
Alongside these updates, the company has launched a new live transit widget that provides real-time information on buses, trains, ferries and subway services directly within Ask Maps. The feature is designed to give travellers quicker access to live transport updates while planning or navigating journeys.
The rollout reflects Google's growing investment in agentic AI, where AI systems perform complex tasks across multiple steps instead of serving solely as conversational assistants. Earlier this year, the company introduced Ask Maps as a Gemini-powered interface capable of answering contextual travel and navigation questions using natural language. The latest enhancements extend those capabilities into transactional services such as food ordering and travel planning.
The announcement also aligns with Google's wider efforts to integrate AI across its consumer ecosystem. Recent updates to AI Mode in Search introduced similar agentic capabilities for restaurant reservations, while Google's Universal Commerce Protocol is being expanded to support categories including hotel bookings and food delivery.
Initially, the new food ordering, hotel discovery and conversational contribution features are rolling out in the United States, with Google confirming plans to expand availability to additional countries over time. The live transit widget and Personal Intelligence capabilities are also being introduced across supported Google Maps markets, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Indonesia, Japan and Mexico.
With the latest update, Google continues to position Maps as more than a navigation platform. By combining conversational AI with transactional capabilities, the company is expanding the app into a broader travel and local discovery assistant that can help users plan, search and complete everyday activities within a single interface.