According to Thurrott.com, Google has begun a worldwide rollout of its Gemini AI assistant within Google Maps for walking and cycling navigation. The new feature provides hands-free, voice-activated guidance for users on foot or bike, allowing them to get an overview of an area, add landmarks to their route, and find nearby points of interest like restaurants. For cyclists, Gemini can also handle tasks like checking your ETA, sending texts, and reporting traffic disruptions, similar to its existing car mode. The global expansion is happening now in all markets where the Gemini assistant is already available.
The real test is off-road
So, Google‘s trying to make your phone a more conversational tour guide. Here’s the thing: voice guidance for walking isn’t new. Turn-by-turn has been there. The real shift is making it interactive and contextual. Asking your phone “what’s that building?” or “add a coffee shop to my route” without touching it is the promised magic. But I think the big challenge won’t be the tech—it’ll be social awkwardness. How many people are going to comfortably have a full conversation with their phone while strolling down a busy street? Probably fewer than Google hopes.
More than just navigation
For cyclists, the integration gets more interesting. Asking for your ETA while moving is genuinely useful, as is voice-controlled reporting of potholes or obstructions. It taps into the same system Waze uses, which actually brings up a good point. Waze gained a Gemini-powered conversational reporting feature back in October 2024. Now, with Maps getting smarter, you have to wonder about the overlap. Is Google planning to better merge these platforms? Or just let them compete? Having two slightly different AI assistants in two different navigation apps from the same company feels… messy.
Google’s broader game
Look, this isn’t just about helping you find a taco stand. It’s another data point in Google’s relentless push to make its AI the ambient layer over everything you do. Every question you ask Gemini about your surroundings teaches it about real-world context and intent. That’s incredibly valuable. Basically, they’re betting that convenience will eventually outweigh the slight weirdness of talking to your phone. Will it work? For specific, hands-free scenarios like cycling, it might. For the casual walker? The value seems less obvious. But the rollout is global, so we’re about to find out.
