NEW YORK: Google has announced the integration of generative AI capabilities into its Google Maps Platform and Google Earth, aiming to provide developers and urban planners with innovative, real-world data to address geospatial challenges. This move is set to enhance user interaction by enabling natural-language queries about locations on the map, which will be supported by AI-generated summaries derived from human-written reviews, as stated by the company. According to Oman News Agency, Google's introduction of its generative AI model, Gemini, into Maps is a strategic effort to strengthen its competitive edge against Apple Maps and emerging navigation startups. The incorporation of Gemini into Google Earth is particularly noteworthy for urban planners, who will gain access to more detailed, city-level insights, thereby substantially reducing the time required for data analysis from days to mere minutes. In addition to these updates, Google revealed plans to integrate Gemini into Waze, another navigation ap p under its umbrella. The company has started experimenting with a new feature that allows users to report traffic incidents through voice commands. Moreover, Google emphasized that developers using AI models will have the ability to verify responses by leveraging the company's extensive database of locations.