News Analysis India

Tag: Google maps

  • Google Maps Navigation Leads Hyderabad-Based Four Tourists Into Stream In Kerala |

    Kerala: Using Google Maps to navigate resulted in a tourist group from Hyderabad driving into a stream swollen with water near Kuruppanthara in this south Kerala district, police said on Saturday. The incident occurred late Friday night when the four-member group, including a woman, were going towards Alappuzha. 

    The road they were travelling on was covered by water overflowing from the stream due to heavy rains and since the tourists were unfamiliar with the area, they drove right into the water body while navigating using Google maps, police said. 

    All four managed to escape unharmed due to the efforts of a nearby police patrolling unit and local residents, but their vehicle was completely submerged under the water, an officer of Kaduthuruthy police station said. The vehicle -a Ford Endeavour – was later pulled out of the stream using a crane. (Also Read: CEO Elon Musk Accuses WhatsApp, Claims Meta App Breaches Private User Data Every Night)

    Thereafter, the man who was driving the vehicle told reporters that he and his friends were going to Alappuzha from Munnar and they took the route shown by Google Maps. “At around 2-3 pm, it started raining very heavily. 

    The road was waterlogged. I was going very slow at around 10 kms per hour. But, suddenly the front tyres went deep into the water and the vehicle lost control. “Then the rear tyres also went in and the vehicle started floating forward. We quickly pulled down the windows and jumped out. We somehow managed to safely reach the shore,” he said. 

    Meanwhile, residents of the area said such accidents happen there during the rainy season when the road gets submerged. This is not the first such Google map-related accident reported in Kerala. In October last year, two young doctors died in a car accident which occurred after they allegedly followed directions on Google Maps and fell into a river. (Also Read: WhatsApp To Soon Allow Users To Put AI-Generated Profile Photos Based On Interests, Personalities, Moods)

    Following the incident, the Kerala police had issued cautionary guidelines for using the technology during the monsoon season.

  • Google Maps Utilizes Generative AI For Uncovering New Places; Check Details Here |

    New Delhi: Google Maps is set to undergo a significant upgrade with the integration of generative AI aiming to enhance user experiences. Through this new feature, the tech giant plans to revolutionize how users discover places, receive recommendations, and interact with the app.

    The addition of large language models and personalized suggestions marks a notable shift in the capabilities of Google Maps offering a glimpse into the future of AI-driven navigation and exploration.

    According to a blog post from Google, Maps will utilize large language models (LLM) to examine over 250 million locations and input from more than 300 million Local Guides. This will enable the app to provide suggestions tailored to user preferences by considering details from nearby businesses, including photos, reviews, and ratings. (Also Read: Apple Gears Up For Foldable Future: Report Indicates Entry Into Foldable Device Market by 2027)

    Users can also pose additional questions, such as ‘How about lunch?’, to receive recommendations for places that align with their previous inquiries. Subsequently, they will have the option to include the suggested place in a list or share it with friends. (Also Read: Apple Declares Final MacBook Featuring Disc Drive As ‘Obsolete’)

    As mentioned by Tech giant, users can inquire with Maps about activities suitable for a rainy day. In response, the app will provide suggestions for indoor activities, such as comedy shows or movie theaters in the nearby area, along with reviews from individuals who have already rated those places.

    The initial functionality supported by generative AI will only be accessible to a small group of Local Guides located in the United States. However, Google has not provided details about when it will become available for individuals residing in other countries.

    Although the differences between the new search results and traditional queries are not clear yet, it’s likely that the company will use generative AI to provide conversational Bard-style responses instead of presenting a list of places or activities. While currently available to a limited audience, the potential for this innovative feature to expand globally hints at an exciting future for navigation technology.