In March, Google introduced the Ask Maps feature, a new conversational experience that answers complex, real-world questions a map could never answer before. The company is now introducing some new updates for this feature, while Ask Maps will also be expanding globally.
This March, we introduced Ask Maps, the biggest @googlemaps update in a decade. Now, we’re making it even more helpful and bringing it to more people.
🌏 Expanded availability: Rolling out in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Indonesia, Japan and Mexico, along with over 150 countries… pic.twitter.com/5YGEUkpw3R
— Google (@Google) August 6, 2026
Ask Maps: Expanding in more countries
Initially, this feature was made available in India and the US for Android and iOS users. Now it is also rolling out in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, and Mexico, along with over 150 countries and territories in English.
Ask Maps: New updates
Order food, find the perfect hotel and discover events
Ask Maps can now help you order food. It will find open restaurants that serve what you are craving and can even consider things like your saved places or specific dietary needs. Once you select a restaurant, Ask Maps can automatically add the dish you are looking for directly to your cart so you can easily review and complete your order. Food ordering is rolling out now with partners like Square and Toast, with Uber Eats coming soon. Google will continue to evolve these experiences as they co-develop the Universal Commerce Protocol for Food with partners.
Further, with Ask Maps, you can also quickly discover the latest information about hotels and local events. It will compare real-time prices and check availability for you so you can find the right spot. Ask Maps will show you everything from concerts to comedy shows, complete with links for tickets.
Get personalised answers and resume past conversations
With Personal Intelligence, you can choose to securely connect Ask Maps to Gmail, and soon other apps like Calendar. Ask Maps automatically factors in your upcoming flight or dinner reservations, giving you relevant suggestions without you having to explain your existing plans.
You will see nearby recommendations based on your hotel reservation in Gmail, along with tips for getting to the airport afterwards. Connecting Ask Maps to Gmail is off by default, and you can decide if you want to connect or not.
If your history settings are turned on, Ask Maps also remembers past conversations so you can pick up where you left off.
Real-time transit information
Ask Maps already gives real-time information about traffic or any incident that occurred on your desired route. You can even check how busy a shop or restaurant is before you head out so you can avoid waiting in long lines.
Google is now bringing these live updates to transit. A new transit widget right in Ask Maps keeps you informed about up-to-the-minute delays for your bus, train, subway, or ferry ride. You will see all of your options at a glance on a virtual departure board.
Tell Maps about updates and share tips conversationally
You can suggest edits conversationally, right from Ask Maps and the Contribute tab. You can even upload a photo of a storefront sign; Maps will detect the new hours from the image, and ask you to confirm before submitting the suggestion for you. Maps’ built-in protection systems review suggested edits for accuracy and won’t post suggestions that violate Google’s policies. It’s also easy to tell Maps about an insider tip.
Availability
The live transit widget, more personalised responses and remembering past conversations in Ask Maps are rolling out now everywhere Ask Maps is available. Meanwhile, Food ordering, discovering hotels and events, and conversational contributions are rolling out now in the US.
