Google Maps Gets Gemini AI: Hands-Free Navigation and Safety Alerts Rolling Out in India

Highlights

Google Maps brings Gemini AI-powered conversational navigation and new safety alerts to India, enhancing driver convenience, awareness, and road safety.

Google is taking a major step toward smarter and safer driving experiences in India with its latest update to Google Maps. The tech giant has announced a series of AI-driven features, including a hands-free, conversational navigation system powered by Gemini AI, enabling users to talk to Maps naturally while on the go.

The new feature allows drivers to remain focused on the road, eliminating the need to touch their phones for directions or searches. Instead, they can simply say commands like, “Find the nearest petrol pump,” or “What’s parking like at Phoenix Mall?” The Gemini AI assistant will respond conversationally, even handling follow-up tasks such as setting reminders or adding calendar events linked to a location — provided users grant permission to access Gmail or Calendar.

“Maps takes a significant leap forward with the power of Gemini, enabling a conversational, intuitive, AI-powered assistant to make every day journeys smarter and easier,” said Lalitha Ramani, General Manager for Google Maps India. She added that the company is also introducing several safety initiatives in partnership with authorities to improve driving conditions across the country.

AI-Driven Navigation for Indian Roads

The Gemini AI upgrade marks one of the biggest artificial intelligence integrations into Google Maps in India to date. The conversational navigation feature will be available to both Android and iOS users in the coming weeks, making driving and route management simpler and more efficient.

Beyond convenience, Google is also placing a strong emphasis on road safety. The company has worked with local and national traffic authorities to introduce proactive alerts and real-time updates aimed at reducing accidents and congestion.

Safety and Traffic Features

Starting with Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, Maps will now send proactive traffic alerts, notifying users about major disruptions and delays — even when navigation isn’t active. This is designed to help commuters plan alternative routes ahead of time.

Another important addition is accident-prone area alerts. As drivers approach high-risk zones, Maps will issue both visual and voice warnings, encouraging safer driving behaviour. This feature is set to debut in Gurugram, Cyberabad (Hyderabad region), Chandigarh, and Faridabad.

In addition, official speed limit displays sourced from traffic departments will now appear alongside the in-app speedometer in nine major cities, including Mumbai, Kolkata, Jaipur, Lucknow, and Noida, helping reduce speeding violations and enhance driver awareness.

Google has also teamed up with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to deliver real-time highway updates on closures, repairs, and available services such as rest stops and eateries — a move expected to make long-distance travel more efficient.

Localisation and Transit Enhancements

Acknowledging India’s vast two-wheeler user base, Google is adding customisable “Navatars” — bike icons available in different styles and colours. Maps will also offer voice directions in nine Indian languages, improving accessibility for riders navigating complex intersections and flyovers.

For metro commuters, Google Wallet integration will allow users to store metro tickets directly in Maps, ensuring smoother entry at stations. This feature will expand to Mumbai soon, following successful rollouts in Delhi, Bengaluru, Kochi, and Chennai.

With Gemini AI at its core, Google Maps in India is evolving from a navigation tool into a smart, conversational travel companion — one that blends artificial intelligence with localised safety, accessibility, and convenience.