On January 30, 2026, Google announced the official launch of walking and cycling navigation features based on the Gemini assistant in its mapping application. Following the driving scenario, this AI interaction experience now fully covers non-motorized travel modes, aiming to provide users with real-time voice assistance similar to that of a "co-pilot friend."

Hands-free throughout: Real-time voice interaction

To address the inconvenience for pedestrians and cyclists of frequently checking their phones, Google Maps has introduced deep voice interaction capabilities:

Real-time traffic information: Users can ask at any time, "Where am I?" or "What are the highest-rated restaurants nearby?" Gemini will provide accurate voice responses combined with local big data.

Cycling safety optimization: Cyclists can query estimated arrival times or the schedule of their next meeting without looking at the screen.

Background task automation: If a user finds they cannot arrive on time, they just need to say, "Tell Sarah I'll be 10 minutes late," and Gemini will send the message in the background, ensuring the user focuses on the road conditions.

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Unified ecosystem: Cross-product collaboration of Gemini

This update is a key step in Google's strategy to promote a "unified AI assistant." The footprint of Gemini is rapidly expanding across core product lines:

Deep integration with the browser: Google Chrome has launched a side panel, allowing users to interact directly with web content or generate images.

Personal intelligence hub: Gemini has been integrated with Google Drive, Photos, and Gmail, providing personalized recommendations based on the user's personal data, such as automatically scheduling meeting times in Google Meet.