Google Maps has an AI trick up its sleeve that could make driving a little easier

One thing that can be confusing when using a navigation app like Google Maps is making sure you’re in the correct lane when driving on a busy highway. I’m not afraid to admit that during long road trips while navigating with Google Maps, I’ve made the mistake of missing my exit because I couldn’t change lanes in time. To help people like me, and I’m sure many others, avoid changing lanes too late, Google is leveraging the power of AI.

Google has announced the upcoming launch of AI-powered live lane guidance for vehicles with built-in Google services. This feature, set to roll out “in the coming months,” aims to help Google Maps users merge lanes on time by providing them with “customized, real-time navigation help.”

Google is providing this assistance by letting Google Maps see what you can see for the first time ever, by utilizing the car’s front-facing camera and AI to analyze lane markings and road signs. Google Maps will then take this information and provide you with live lane guidance, which you’ll be able to see on your car’s infotainment screen using Google Maps in real time. For example, if you’re in the left lane and need to merge over to the right to avoid missing your exit, Google Maps’ live lane guidance will provide you with both audio and visual cues to help you merge on time.

“Our AI in the vehicle analyzes lane markings and road signs as they’re captured by the car’s front-facing camera,” Google explained in a blog post. “This real-time road information is instantly integrated with Google Maps’ powerful navigation capabilities — trusted by more than 2 billion users each month — so you get even more precise guidance alongside the live traffic, ETAs and alerts you already rely on.”

Live lane guidance is coming to Polestar first

Google is expanding it to more vehicles and road types soon

Credit: Google / Pocket-lint

As for which cars will be able to take advantage of live lane guidance first, Google says it will be limited to cars with built-in Google services, starting with the Polestar 4, with support rolling out in the US and Sweden “in the coming months.”

If you don’t have a Polestar 4, fear not, as Google did say in its blog post that support will “expand to more road types and cars in partnership with key automakers” in the future. So, it seems the Polestar 4 won’t have this feature exclusively for long.

At Google I/O earlier this year, Google announced that over 50 vehicle models powered by Android Automotive OS with Google-built-in services are now on the market, with automakers like Volvo, GMC, Honda, Nissan, Ford, Lincoln, and Infiniti, among others, offering these vehicles.