Google has expanded its suite of artificial intelligence tools across Search, Maps, and Translate to automate travel planning and execution. Powered by Gemini speech and multimodal models, the updates introduce real-time headphone translation for over 70 languages and agentic restaurant reservations across platforms like OpenTable and Resy. The new capabilities aim to eliminate manual research by generating custom itineraries, tracking hotel prices, and placing automated calls to local businesses.
Agentic Reservations and Automated Merchant Calling
Google has integrated agentic capabilities into Search's AI Mode and Ask Maps to streamline restaurant bookings. Travelers can state complex requirements—such as a table for five next Saturday with specific cuisine and live music—and the system searches across reservation platforms to find real-time availability. Users receive a curated list with direct links to finalize bookings on partner sites like OpenTable and Resy. This agentic restaurant booking feature is available in AI Mode within the U.S., U.K., India, Canada, and Australia, as well as via Ask Maps in the U.S. and India.
Additionally, Google is expanding its automated calling tool to AI Mode on Search in the U.S. Driven by Gemini models and Duplex technology, the system calls local stores on behalf of users to confirm item availability and discounts before they visit in person.
Canvas Itineraries and Conversational Maps
For broader travel logistics, Google introduced custom trip planning using the Canvas tool inside Search's AI Mode for U.S. users. Travelers can describe an ideal trip to generate a structured itinerary featuring flight and hotel options alongside local attractions on an interactive map.
Key updates across the travel ecosystem include:
- Custom Canvas Itineraries: Generates organized travel schedules on a side panel with automatic progress saving in Search history.
- Granular Hotel Price Tracking: Enables price tracking for individual hotels globally in English and Spanish, delivering email alerts for significant rate drops.
- Conversational Ask Maps: Uses Gemini models to process contextual queries—such as finding campsites with specific amenities—leveraging insights from 500 million local contributors across the U.S. and India.
- Google Wallet Integration: Boarding passes saved on Android now display live flight updates, gate changes, and baggage claim details directly on the lock screen.
Live Audio Translation Across 70+ Languages
Live translation now supports over 70 languages through any pair of headphones while preserving the speaker's original tone and cadence. Built on Gemini's advanced speech models, this feature delivers real-time audio translation on both Android and iOS devices, helping travelers navigate foreign markets and public transit announcements smoothly.