On Wednesday, Google showed off a series of ways to use AI to improve Maps. For example, it uses computer vision and other forms of AI to merge billions of aerial and Street View images, creating an “immersive view” of the world.
The new immersive view feature allows users to get a detailed and up-close view of locations, including indoor locations like restaurants or event venues. With information from Google Maps overlaid, the user can use the weather slider to see what an area looks like at different times of the day and in various weather conditions. This can give insight into how busy a location is at certain times of the day or about traffic nearby.
According to Google, Immersive View will work on most phones and devices. It will begin rolling out in Los Angeles, London, New York, San Francisco and Tokyo later this year, with more cities to follow.
Google adds eco-routing options to Google Flights
Meanwhile, Google is adding eco-routing options to Google Flights. Google users can already find eco-friendly routes to drive in Maps, offering routes that aren’t necessarily the shortest way from point A to point B, but should result in the least carbon emissions. Now people looking for flights will be able to find carbon emission estimates alongside other information like price and schedules.
Eco-routing was launched in Maps last year in the United States and Canada. This saved around half a million tonnes of carbon emissions, the equivalent of taking 100,000 cars off the road. Google is now expanding this feature to Europe and other countries.
“These small decisions have a big impact on a large scale,” Google CEO Sundar Pichai said at the Google I/O keynote.
Finally, Google announced that it is making its Live View functionality available to third-party app developers for free through a new ARCore geospatial API.
Live View helps Maps users navigate places, using AR to display arrows and directions. Among the companies already using the new API is electric-sharing company Lime. She is piloting the API in London, Paris, Tel Aviv, Madrid, San Diego and Bordeaux to help drivers park their electric bikes and scooters responsibly and outside the right of way for pedestrians.
All about Google I/O 2022
Source: “ZDNet.com”