Google is rolling out a series of major updates to Google Maps in India, introducing Gemini-powered AI features, enhanced safety alerts, and more localized navigation tools. The new capabilities, which began rolling out in the U.S. on Wednesday, are now being tailored specifically for Indian users, with a focus on deep localization beyond just language. Miriam Daniel, vice president and head of Google Maps, emphasized the complexity of adapting the product for India. “When we say localizing for India, it’s not just the language,” she said during a virtual briefing. “It’s also adapting to how Indians use the product, how they will talk, how they will ask for questions, how they will identify places, the geopolitical context, street names—everything is different in India.” Gemini in Maps will offer hands-free AI assistance, contextual route suggestions, and detailed information about points of interest. The feature will be available to all Android and iOS users in India in the coming weeks and will support nine Indian languages at launch. In addition to AI enhancements, Google is introducing a suite of India-specific safety and navigation improvements. Drivers will now receive visual and audio alerts when approaching high-risk or accident-prone road sections. These alerts are being developed in collaboration with local authorities, and the feature is being launched first in select cities: Gurugram, the Cyberabad region of Hyderabad, Chandigarh, and Faridabad. The updates come amid growing scrutiny over the accuracy of Google Maps in India, following a fatal incident in late 2023 when a car drove off an unfinished bridge in Uttar Pradesh, resulting in three deaths. In response, Anal Ghosh, senior program manager for Google Maps, acknowledged the challenges of keeping up with rapidly changing real-world conditions. “The real world can change in an instant. Maps can’t be accurate 100% of the time,” he said. “We encourage users to keep their eyes on the road and stay alert.” To improve data accuracy, Google has partnered with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to access near real-time information on road closures, diversions, and construction work. This collaboration will also enable Maps to display key amenities such as public restrooms, restaurants, and fuel stations along national highways. Other new features include proactive notifications about major disruptions or delays on routes, even when users are not actively navigating. These alerts are being rolled out to Android users on highways and major roads in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. The app will also show real-time speed limits during navigation, using data from local traffic authorities. This feature is launching for Android and iOS users in nine cities: Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Hyderabad (including Cyberabad), Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Noida. Building on a feature introduced last year, Google Maps is now adding voice guidance for flyovers, helping drivers navigate complex intersections and elevated roads more easily. This enhancement will roll out to Android and iOS users over the coming weeks.