South Africa, March 20 -- Google Maps launched Ask Maps and Immersive Navigation on 12 March 2026, both powered by Gemini AI and will be coming to South Africa soon. The update transforms Maps from a keyword search tool into a conversational discovery platform, with implications for multi-location brands, informal settlements, and digital inclusion.

Imagine a customer asking Google Maps: "Where can I charge my phone without standing in a long coffee queue?" and your location appearing, or not appearing, in the AI-generated answer. That scenario is no longer hypothetical. As of 12 March 2026, it is live.

Google has just rolled out what it calls the biggest Maps update in over a decade, a dual release of Ask Maps and Immersive Navigation,...