First look: Here’s how Gemini will use Google Maps to become a chatty local guide

Source: Android Authority

TL;DR

• Google is working on a new Gemini feature that lets users attach a selected map area directly to their prompts.
• The Maps UI allows zooming, exploring the current area, and using precise locations for local questions.
• Gemini uses Google Maps to answer queries, and while it’s still buggy, we can now show you what the core experience will look like.

Background

A few weeks ago we reported that Google was working on bringing a Maps integration to Gemini, turning it into a personal travel guide or local discovery agent. At that time the feature wasn’t live, and the “Map” button in Gemini’s attachment menu was completely grayed out. All we had were a few strings of code hinting at how the feature might work.

New Maps Attachment Feature

A fresh teardown of the Google app (version 17.6.58.ve.arm64) reveals the first real look at Gemini’s Maps integration. The new “Maps” attachment lets users:

• Attach a specific map area directly to a prompt.
• Ask location‑based questions such as restaurant recommendations, safety concerns, or rent prices.
• Use the same conversational abilities of Gemini to get more precise results than the standard “Search this area” button in Google Maps.

Example Prompts

• “Where should I eat here?” (after selecting an area)
• “Is this a safe area to walk at night?”
• “What are the rents like in this area?”

User Interface

When you tap Maps in the attachment sheet, Gemini opens a full‑screen map view with:

• A search icon in the top‑right corner.
• A current‑location button in the bottom‑right.
• A large Explore this area button at the bottom.

You can zoom in or out to adjust the selected region before attaching it. Tapping Explore this area adds the chosen region as a “Map area” attachment in the Gemini compose box.

There is also a search UI for looking up places, or an option to Use precise location to focus on your exact spot. (Note: searching for places currently crashes the app, indicating the feature is still a work in progress.)

Testing and Findings

After attaching a map area and sending a prompt, Gemini connects to the Google Maps extension to generate responses. In our testing:

• Gemini correctly understood the intent (e.g., looking for food recommendations).
• However, it often returned results from across the entire city rather than the selected local area.
• This suggests the underlying wiring still needs refinement.

Conclusion

The foundation for Gemini’s Maps attachment is in place, but the feature remains buggy and incomplete. Google will need to address the accuracy of area‑specific results and stability issues (such as the search crash) before a public release.

⚠️ An APK teardown can predict future features based on work‑in‑progress code, but there’s no guarantee those features will reach a public release.