Updated Features on Google Maps and Waze: Ideas Integration, Previews, Parking Assistance, and Verbal Accident Reporting
In the realm of navigation apps, Google Maps and Waze have taken significant strides in 2025, focusing on improved navigation, safety, and user experience.
Google Maps
Google Maps has introduced a host of AI-powered features to streamline trip planning and navigation. Notably, a new screenshot feature on iOS allows users to find routes quickly based on location-tagged images in their photo library, making planning from online content a breeze.
The app also supports dynamically adding fuel stops during a trip, showing nearby gas stations and estimated time to stop, thus improving route flexibility. Google Maps users can now report real-time road incidents such as crashes, slowdowns, or police presence, enhancing navigation accuracy and safety.
In an effort to focus more on personalized and AI-assisted features, Google Maps is removing some social aspects like followers. However, it is upgrading essential navigation tools, offering features like immersive views of landmarks with parking and enhanced navigation that will launch next month in over 30 metro areas.
Waze
Waze is set to require Android 10 or higher for updates, phasing out support for older devices. The app is introducing three new navigation-improving features, including better integration of various road alerts, likely enhancing AI-driven hazard and traffic notifications for safer driving.
Waze is also offering themed icons and has started rolling out maps integration with heads-up displays in compatible vehicles for a more immersive navigation experience. The app shows "black spot" notifications for roads with frequent crashes, a safety feature also available in Google Maps.
In terms of safety, Waze has enhanced driver safety with Conversational Reporting, allowing users to report incidents by speaking naturally. The app is also adding School Zones to improve safety near schools, reminding drivers to drive carefully during open hours.
Integration of AI and Real-time Updates
Both apps employ AI to interpret and highlight significant data like crash-prone areas, live alerts for road issues, and personalized route updates for efficiency and safety. Real-time map updates with user reports and AI curation provide dynamic route adjustments and travel inspiration tailored to current conditions.
Google Maps now helps users travel more safely by reporting weather disruptions such as flooded, unplowed, or low-visibility roads. The new features are available now in the U.S. on Android and iOS.
As for Waze, once parked, users can get walking directions from the car to the entrance. The app's new features will be available on Android and iOS later this year.
In addition, Google Maps provides ways for users to view and report weather disruptions along their routes. Users can ask Maps for suggestions like "things to do with friends at night" and receive ideas filtered through community-driven insights on over 250 million places.
Google Maps' Immersive View now covers 150 cities globally, previewing stadiums, parks, and routes under specific weather and traffic conditions. The update to Google Maps' Immersive View includes new categories like college campuses and complex route details.
Users can now see exactly which lane to be in while navigating, indicated by the blue line in the lane markers. Google Maps now provides real-time map updates and shows nearby parking lots, reminding users to save their parking location.
Lastly, the new Gemini models in Google Maps offer curated inspiration for outings. The new features on Google Maps will be updated in the U.S. on Android and iOS this week.
- Google Maps users can now report real-time road incidents like crashes, slowdowns, or police presence, enhancing navigation accuracy and safety, while Waze has introduced Conversational Reporting, allowing users to report incidents by speaking naturally, also focusing on driver safety.
- Technology integration is a key focus for both navigation apps in 2025, as Google Maps provides immersive views of landmarks with parking and enhanced navigation, and Waze offers themed icons and maps integration with heads-up displays in compatible vehicles, all aiming to provide a more seamless and personalized lifestyle experience.
