Introducing Google Maps Integration in Vertex AI: Enhance AI Responses with Real-Time, Reliable Location Data
- 28East
- Aug 14, 2025
- 2 min read
In July, Google announced the Preview of Grounding with Google Maps in Vertex AI, allowing developers to gain access to updated information on 250 million places. Building on this release, Google has now integrated their AI software, Gemini, into Google Maps to create a trusted source of data.
While many businesses are excited by the potential of this launch, they have also indicated that they struggle to trust the output of LLM models. By grounding these models in reliable data sources, user confidence increases, and the output accuracy improves for a better overall experience.
Making AI Experiences More Accurate, Complete, and Personal
With Grounding with Google Maps, you can easily incorporate up-to-date place information into your AI responses, making them more relevant and accurate. You can also offer personalised recommendations for what's nearby, including details like hours and ratings.
This update also gives you the flexibility to customise responses by combining your data with Google Maps’ insights. For example, a realtor could highlight nearby dog parks for pet owners, while a travel site could recommend restaurants suited for large groups or families.
To further improve your AI responses, you can easily add the familiar Google Maps UI, showcasing contextual details such as photos, ratings, and reviews. Or combine this with Google Maps Platform’s visual capabilities to create more immersive experiences.
For instance, after making a recommendation with Grounding, you can use the Maps APIs to pinpoint the location on an interactive map, display a route, or even offer a 3D view of the surrounding area.
Use Insights to Answer Specific Questions
As part of the Preview release, Google is introducing a new capability to deliver rich, detailed answers to both specific and ambiguous place-related queries.
This allows you to leverage insights from Google Maps user reviews to address questions like, “What’s the vibe of the place?”, “Are the margaritas good?”, or “Is it a great spot for a first date?”
In the travel industry, companies can assist users in choosing where to stay, discovering nearby attractions, and booking more efficiently by enriching AI responses with valuable insights.
Similarly, social media platforms can help users to research and explore areas by providing personalised recommendations, such as suggesting dinner party venues or nearby clubs.
Build with Confidence on a Unified Platform
At 28East, we’re here to help you maximise the power of Vertex AI and Google Maps to transform your applications. With trusted data and advanced AI models, you can create more intuitive, location-aware experiences for your users, whether in travel, real estate, e-commerce, or beyond.
Ready to take your AI-powered applications to the next level? Contact us today to see how we can help!
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