Originally showcased at Google I/O 2023, one of the more interesting new feature additions to Google Maps is Immersive View, which offers a multidimensional, lifelike view of locations. This feature uses AI to merge billions of Street View and aerial images together to create a rich digital model of the world.
Users can pan, zoom, and tilt around Immersive View to see buildings, businesses, and other landmarks from different angles. They can also adjust the weather and time of day to get a better sense of what a place will look like when they visit. Immersive View could prove helpful for navigating unfamiliar places and help users explore a new city center to find the best tourist attractions, scout a potential restaurant before making a reservation, or navigate a complex roadway.
In addition to Immersive View, Google Maps has also added Lens integration, which brings Google’s powerful image recognition capabilities to the Maps app. With Lens, users can scan physical objects such as signs, menus, and landmarks to get more information about them. For example, a user could scan a sign for a new restaurant to see reviews and photos, or scan a menu to get nutritional information and see what other people are ordering.
Like Immersive View, Lens integration with Maps could be a boon for travelers. It can help them break down language barriers, learn about local customs, and make the most of their experiences.
