Google Maps adds agentic AI to handle bookings and food orders
The updated 'Ask Maps' feature can now execute transactions and remember user preferences to act as a digital concierge.
Google has upgraded its Gemini-powered 'Ask Maps' feature with "agentic" capabilities, transforming the tool from a conversational chatbot into an assistant that can execute real-world tasks. The update allows the AI to perform complex transactions, such as ordering food and booking travel accommodations, directly within the app.
Ask Maps can now automate food ordering by adding a user's preferred items to a cart for final verification and completion. Beyond dining, the AI's expanded utility extends to booking hotels and finding event tickets. To further streamline the experience, the update introduces real-time transit widgets and opt-in Gmail personalization—part of Google's Personal Intelligence initiative—which allows the AI to factor in a user's existing travel plans to provide more relevant suggestions.
The shift to agentic AI
Google first integrated the Gemini AI chatbot into Maps in March under the 'Ask Maps' branding. While the initial version focused on providing information and recommendations, this latest iteration marks a pivot toward "agentic" AI. A key component of this shift is the introduction of conversational memory; if history settings are enabled, the tool can remember prior interactions. This allows users to reference previous recommendations and build upon existing plans without having to restart the conversation from scratch.
Why it matters
This update represents a significant move toward the industry-wide goal of creating AI agents that do more than synthesize information. By integrating transaction capabilities and long-term memory into a primary utility app, Google is attempting to build a seamless, end-to-end concierge for local discovery and travel. This reduces the friction between discovering a destination and taking action, moving the user from a search result to a confirmed booking within a single interface.
What's next
As Google continues to refine its Personal Intelligence features, the industry will be watching how these agentic capabilities scale across other Google services. While the current focus is on food, hotels, and tickets, the integration of Gmail data suggests a broader move toward a predictive assistant that anticipates user needs based on their digital footprint. It remains to be seen how Google will handle the security and privacy implications of allowing an AI agent to manage financial transactions and personal schedules on a larger scale.