- Google Maps Gets AI-Powered Live Lane Guidance for Your Trips
- You will receive hints on the screen if you are currently in the wrong lane
- The feature will arrive first on the Polestar 4, in the US and Sweden.
One of the trickiest parts of getting from A to B on a highway, especially in built-up areas and unfamiliar territories, is knowing which lane you’re supposed to be in, and Google Maps is about to improve this aspect of its navigation interface.
According to a post on its official blog, Google says that AI-powered live lane guidance is coming to Google Maps. It will use the vehicle’s front camera to see which lane you are currently in and tell you to move if necessary.
“So, if you’re in the far left lane and your exit is on the right, Live Lane Guidance automatically detects this and uses clear audio and visual cues to remind you to merge on time,” Google explains.
The trick? It only works for cars with Google software built into the dashboard (so not for Android Auto). The launch will begin with the Polestar 4 in the US and Sweden “in the coming months”, and no other cars have been mentioned so far.
Less stress on the road
This is certainly a welcome update, albeit with limited availability for now. It looks like the on-screen nudges will be fairly gentle, so they won’t add to the stress of having to navigate difficult intersections and road networks.
Google Maps already offers lane guidance, both on phones and Android Auto, to show you which lane you need to be in, but the benefit of the new system is that Google Maps will be able to tell if you’re not where you need to be.
From my own personal experience, the lane guidance already in Google Maps can sometimes be difficult to understand, especially on roads where lanes change at a fairly rapid pace. Of course, at the same time you also need to keep your eyes on the road.
It must be recognized that Google Maps is one of the applications that periodically receives new features and improvements, including the user interface. It also looks like a power saving mode for navigation will be added in the near future.
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