On Tuesday, Google unveiled a host of new features and updates for its mapping service in India as part of its year-end wrap-up and groundwork for the coming year.
Among the recent additions is Lens in Maps, set to launch in 15 Indian cities by January, beginning with Android. This feature, initially launched in the U.S. and other global markets in October, leverages a combination of artificial intelligence and augmented reality. It provides users with information such as opening hours, ratings, reviews, and photos when they point their smartphone cameras down the street at a restaurant or café.
Additionally, Google introduced Live View walking navigation in India, offering arrows, directions, and distance markers overlaid on the Maps screen. Initially available on Android, this feature will expand to over 3,000 cities and towns across the country.
Miriam Karthika, VP for Google Maps Experience, emphasized the unique challenges and diverse needs of India, stating, “India is a massive, massive country with so many diverse needs. The scale at which we have to operate for India is very vast.”
In addition to immersive experiences through Lens in Maps and Live View, Google unveiled Address Descriptors for more than 75 Indian cities. This feature employs machine learning signals to provide up to five relevant landmarks and area names around pinned addresses, enhancing location sharing.
Google is introducing fuel-efficient routing in India, starting in January, to help users reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions for both four-wheelers and two-wheelers. This feature, which globally prevented over 2.4 million metric tons of CO2e emissions from October 2021 to September 2023, utilizes AI to analyze real-time traffic data, road elevation, and vehicle engine type.
Collaborating with India’s Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and mobility app Namma Yatri, Google will enable metro schedules and bookings directly through Google Maps. This service will debut with Kochi metro in mid-next year.
Google expanded its Where Is My Train app, catering to over 80 million users monthly, to include Mumbai and Kolkata local trains, with plans for additional cities in the future.
Highlighting its significant impact in India, Google noted that it has mapped millions of kilometers of roads, 300 million buildings, and placed 30 million businesses and locations on Maps. The platform sees over 50 million daily searches, 2.5 billion kilometers of directions daily, and over 60 million unique users contributing to Maps in the country. Lastly, Google mentioned that over 50 million users are currently utilizing Street View in India, introduced in July last year after a six-year ban over security concerns.
