Google is bringing Ask Maps to Malaysia

After initially rolling it out to just the US and India, Google is now rolling out Ask Maps, its AI-powered Google Maps experience, to Malaysia as part of an expansion to more than 160 new countries and territories.

Powered by Gemini, Ask Maps allows users to ask more natural questions about places, travel and local information instead of relying on traditional searches. For example, users can ask for restaurant recommendations based on specific needs, find places with certain vibes, or plan trips with more personalised suggestions.

The feature can also provide real-time information from Google Maps, including public transport updates, road disruptions, business information and how busy a location is at a particular time.

On top of that, Google is adding new capabilities to Ask Maps that allows it to handle more complex tasks. Users can ask it to find restaurants along their route and help prepare food orders, while also searching for hotels based on preferences such as budget, ratings, location and nearby facilities.

Ask Maps can also help users discover nearby events, including concerts and comedy shows, with links to purchase tickets where available.

Google is making it easier for the Maps community to contribute updates too. Users can now suggest changes conversationally, such as reporting updated business hours, or upload a photo of a storefront sign for Maps to detect the changes before submitting the update for review.

The company says personalised responses, real-time information and conversation memory are rolling out wherever Ask Maps is available. Some features, including food ordering and conversational contributions, are currently rolling out in the US first before becoming available here.

To try Ask Maps for yourself, open the Google Maps app on your mobile, tap the search bar, and select the Ask Maps button that appears underneath; you’ll probably want to update your app first if you don’t see the option.

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