Google has introduced a new AI-powered immersive view feature in the Google Maps app which was previewed by the tech giant at I/O 2022. Currently, the feature will only be available in five cities worldwide – London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Tokyo.
The immersive view feature combines the benefits of street view and aerial imagery, offering a digital model of a place and real-time updates on traffic, weather, and the level of activity. The app also features a time slider that allows users to see how an area looks at different times of the day.
Google unveiled the new feature at the Search AI event in Paris. With the immersive view feature, users can virtually explore the interiors of stores and restaurants without physically visiting the location. The feature leverages NeRF technology, which stands for Neural Radiance Fields, to provide real-time information, including traffic conditions, nearby restaurants, weather, and time of day.
This technology takes 2D shots of a location from multiple angles and creates a 3D representation of the scene. Google has stated that the immersive view feature is going live in five cities worldwide including London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Tokyo.
In addition to the immersive view feature, Google has also launched the Search with Live View feature, which uses AI for indoor and outdoor navigation. Users can locate parks, restaurants, ATMs, and more by following augmented reality arrows. The service will soon be expanded to Madrid, Dublin, and Barcelona.
The indoor street view feature is also undergoing a major upgrade and will be available in over 1,000 new airports, train stations, and malls located in Barcelona, Berlin, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Melbourne, Paris, Prague, São Paulo, Singapore, Sydney, and Taipei in the coming months.
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