- Google Maps benefits from real-time AI-powered lane guidance for your travels
- You will receive on-screen clues if you are currently in the wrong lane
- This feature comes first to the Polestar 4, in the United States and Sweden.
One of the trickiest parts of getting from point A to point B on the road, especially in built-up areas and unfamiliar territory, 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-based live lane guidance will be available on Google Maps. It will use the vehicle’s front camera to see which lane you are currently in and ask you to move if necessary.
“So if you’re in the leftmost lane and your exit is to the right, Live Lane Guidance automatically detects this and uses clear audio and visual cues to remind you to merge in time,” Google explains.
The trap? This only works for cars with in-dash Google software (so not for Android Auto). The rollout begins with the Polestar 4 in the US and Sweden “in the coming months”, and so far no other cars have been mentioned.
Less stress on the road
This is certainly a welcome upgrade, even if its availability is limited at the moment. It appears that the on-screen nudges will be quite gentle, so they won’t add to the stress of having to drive along difficult intersections and road networks.
Google Maps already offers lane guidance, on phones and Android Auto, to tell you which lane you need to be in – but the benefit of the new system is that Google Maps will actually be able to tell if you’re not where you need to be.
In my personal experience, the lane guidance already available in Google Maps can sometimes be difficult to understand, especially on roads where lanes change at a fairly rapid pace. Of course, you also need to keep your eyes on the road.
To Google’s credit, Google Maps is one of the apps that regularly benefits from new features and improvements, especially in the user interface. It also looks like a power saving mode for browsing will be added in the near future.
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