Google Maps gains AI tools for booking hotels and ordering food
Developed over time first seen 2 months ago
Google is adding AI-driven “agentic” functions to Ask Maps, enabling users to search for and begin ordering food, compare hotels and check availability, and find local event tickets. The changes matter because they position Google Maps as a broader personal assistant for completing travel, dining and entertainment tasks, rather than solely a navigation service.
For food orders, Ask Maps can identify nearby restaurants matching a request, add selected items to a basket, then direct users to supported services including Square, Toast or Uber Eats to pay. Hotel searches can compare prices and availability before sending users to a partner website to book, while event queries provide ticket links; these functions are initially rolling out in the US. Google is also introducing optional Personal Intelligence, which can use Gmail and Google Calendar data for tailored answers, alongside conversation memory and a live transit widget in all markets where Ask Maps is available.
- Google Maps can now assist with food orders, hotels and event tickets.
- The new transaction-focused features initially launch in the US.
- Optional personalisation draws on Gmail and Calendar data.
New here? Start with this
Google Maps has traditionally been a navigation and search tool, showing routes, places and reviews. Google is now building an AI assistant called "Ask Maps" directly into the app, allowing users to ask questions in everyday language and get help with tasks that go beyond simply finding a location, such as ordering food or booking accommodation.
The key players are Google, which develops Maps and the AI features, and the outside companies it works with to make bookings happen, including food delivery service Uber Eats and payment and hospitality platforms Square and Toast. These partnerships let Ask Maps hand off requests, such as a food order, to the relevant service so it can be completed without leaving the app.
This matters because it marks a shift in what Maps is designed to do: rather than just providing information, it is being positioned as an assistant that can act on a user's behalf. It also involves a new feature called Personal Intelligence, which can draw on a user's Gmail and Calendar data to tailor its answers, raising questions about how much personal information users may choose to share with the tool.
More coverage
- Engadget — Now you can chat with Google Maps to order food, reserve hotels and more
- The Verge — You can now ask Google Maps’ AI to order food for you
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by TechCrunch as “Google Maps adds agentic features, including food ordering and hotel bookings”.