Google Maps just got a major AI upgrade — and it’s finally hands-free for walkers and cyclists

If you walk or bike to work, Google just dropped some good news. Now, the company's AI-powered navigation assistant is expanding beyond the car.

Starting today, Gemini inside Google Maps will officially support walking and cycling, bringing a conversational, hands-free experience to pedestrians and bike commuters for the first time.

The feature — previously limited to driving — is live now worldwide on iOS wherever Gemini is available, with Android support rolling out over the coming month.

For anyone who has ever tried to text, search or check directions mid-stride (or worse, mid-ride), this update aims to remove the need to constantly tap your screen. Instead, you can simply talk.

What Gemini in navigation actually does

Essentially a conversational co-pilot, users can now navigate a route in Google Maps and ask natural-language questions without leaving the navigation view.

It works similarly to talking to a passenger sitting next to you — except that passenger can pull real-time map data, business listings and scheduling info instantly.

In other words, it's like a built-in tour guide. Pedestrian navigation is where the upgrade promises to feel the most transformative. Instead of stopping to type into a search bar, walkers can now ask questions like:

• “What neighborhood am I in?”
• “What are some must-see attractions nearby?”
• “Are there cafés with a bathroom along my route?”

Gemini pulls from Maps’ location data and nearby points of interest to provide contextual answers while you continue walking. It effectively turns Google Maps into a lightweight audio walking guide layered over turn-by-turn directions.

For cyclists: the upgrade means you know where you're going without letting go of the handlebars. This safety-focused twist is designed to reduce distractions by enabling common tasks through voice alone, such as:

• “What’s my ETA?”
• “When’s my next meeting?”
• “Text Sarah I’m 10 minutes behind.”

Instead of reaching into a pocket or tapping a mounted phone, riders can keep both hands on the bike while still interacting with their schedule or messages.

Why this matters

Voice navigation itself isn’t new — Google Maps has supported spoken directions for years. What’s different here is contextual conversation layered onto navigation, powered by Gemini’s language model rather than rigid voice commands.

In practical terms, that means:

• Less screen dependency while moving
• More natural phrasing instead of memorizing command syntax
• Context-aware answers based on your route and surroundings
• Productivity features integrated into travel rather than separate apps

For urban explorers, commuters and travelers, it shifts Google Maps from a passive directions tool into something closer to a real-time assistant embedded in your journey.

Availability and rollout

There’s no separate download required — the experience lives directly inside Google Maps navigation.

• iOS: Live now worldwide wherever Gemini is supported
• Android: Rolling out broadly over the next month
• Modes supported: Driving (existing), Walking (new) and Cycling (new)

Final thoughts

This expansion highlights Google’s broader push to weave AI assistants into everyday mobility rather than keeping them confined to standalone chat apps. Instead of opening an AI assistant and then switching back to Maps, the assistant now shows up exactly where decisions happen — while you’re on the move.

The iOS-first rollout also reflects the growing relationship between Apple and Google, as iPhone users become increasingly accustomed to using Gemini outside of traditional chat experiences.

For users, the takeaway here is that navigation is becoming far less complicated. Whether you’re exploring a new city on foot or commuting by bike, Google Maps promises to get you there with a simple conversation.

Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.

More from Tom's Guide

• The ‘glitch’ prompt instantly makes ChatGPT smarter — I use it every day
• I let ChatGPT plan what I watch every night — and it ended my streaming scroll
• My AI shortcut turned into a 3-day nightmare — here’s what I learned