In addition to this, Google is introducing AI-powered contextual search results to the Places API. This will allow developers to show reviews and photos related to user searches. For instance, if a user searches for "dog-friendly restaurants," they will see a list of suitable restaurants along with relevant reviews and photos. While contextual search results are available globally, place and area summaries are currently only available in the U.S., with plans for expansion to other countries in the future.
Key takeaways:
- Gemini model capabilities are being added to the Google Maps Platform for developers, starting with the Places API.
- These new capabilities will allow developers to show generative AI summaries of places and areas in their apps and websites, eliminating the need for custom descriptions.
- Google is also introducing AI-powered contextual search results to the Places API, enabling developers to display relevant reviews and photos based on user searches.
- While contextual search results are available globally, place and area summaries are currently only available in the U.S., with plans for future expansion to more countries.