![Google Maps Launches AI-Powered Local Business Search Google Maps Launches AI-Powered Local Business Search](https://www.searchenginejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/img_2024-02-05-143047-65c137b999a30-sej.jpeg)
Google is introducing an experimental feature in Google Maps that uses AI to help users discover local businesses that meet specific needs.
AI-Powered Discovery
The new feature utilizes large language models to analyze Google Maps’ database of over 250 million places, photos, ratings, reviews, and more.
After entering a conversational search query, Google Maps will suggest personalized recommendations for businesses, events, restaurants, and activities in the area.
For example, you can ask Maps to recommend “places with a vintage vibe in San Francisco,” and it will return suggestions like clothing boutiques, record stores, and flea markets.
The results are categorized with photos and review highlights to explain why they meet your criteria.
You can refine your search by asking follow-up questions like “How about lunch?,” which will return recommendations for eateries with a vintage ambiance. Suggested places can also be saved into lists for future reference.
According to Google, the technology is helpful for managing spontaneous or changing itineraries. You can ask for “activities for a rainy day” and immediately get indoor options tailored to the current weather and location.
The feature also takes group dynamics into account. Families can request “options for kids” to see curated suggestions for child-friendly places like children’s museums, arcades, and indoor playgrounds.
Early Access Experiment With Local Guides
For this early preview, Google is soliciting feedback from a select group of Local Guides. Their input will help shape the AI technology before a wider rollout.