PALO ALTO — By Christine Chapel-Hill, AI Bee Reel Staff

January 29, 2026

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA — A local cyclist in neon spandex was seen asking Gemini "What is the history of this street?" while riding straight into a parked food truck, phone still in hand. The collision occurred this morning just as the AI assistant began explaining the taco truck’s deep cultural significance to the neighborhood.

"We want users to feel fully connected to their environment, right until the moment of impact," said Google VP of Immersion Dave Chen. The new feature allows people navigating on foot or bike to ask Gemini questions like "What neighborhood am I in?" or "What are top-rated restaurants nearby?" without the burden of looking at the actual road.

"Previous versions of Maps required users to see where they were going, which was distracting," explained Safety Director Linda Gross. "Now, you can get a 500-word essay on Victorian architecture while drifting into oncoming traffic." Gross noted that most beta testers enjoy the educational content, even while being loaded into ambulances.

At press time, Google rolled out a companion feature for joggers that automatically writes a eulogy if their pace drops to zero.

Inspired by the real story: Google Maps now lets you chat with Gemini AI while walking or cycling to ask about landmarks and restaurants. Read the full story.