Gemini app gets map tool and gathers commands under @

Google's AI assistant Gemini has gained a new tool called Map. It has been rolled out in the app on Android and iOS, while it is not available on the web.

How the map works

You find the Map tool at the end of the row of buttons where you also choose Photos, Camera, Avatar, Files, Drive and Notebooks. When you open it, a live map of where you are is shown, with a circular focus area.

You can pan and zoom on the map. With the magnifying glass in the upper right corner, you can search for another place. When you have selected an area, "Map Area" is added to the input field, and you can write your question next to it.

In practice, you can point to a place on the map and ask Gemini questions about that exact area. It is an easier way to give the AI local context than describing the place in words.

@ replaces slash

Google is also testing a change in the latest beta version of the app. Here, commands with a slash (/) are replaced by the @ character. The purpose is to gather the Gemini app's Skills and Connectors in one shared menu.

Skills are shortcuts to specific tasks, and Connectors link Gemini with other services. Previously, you had to remember whether a tool required / or @. Now it becomes simpler.

If you type a slash in the new version, you get a message that the shortcuts have moved and are now only found under @.

What does it mean for you?

If you have not used these commands, you will hardly notice a difference. If you use Gemini on mobile for something involving places, for example finding something near a specific area, the map tool can make it easier to ask the question precisely.

The @ change is only being tested in a beta version. It is therefore not certain that all users will see it right away.

What it means for you

If you use Gemini on mobile, you can now point to an area on the map and ask questions about that exact place, for example what restaurants or sights are nearby. It is easier than describing the place in words, and you find the tool among the buttons next to Photos and Files in the Android or iOS app. The switch between slash and @ only affects you if you use shortcuts, and then it is an advantage to have to remember one character instead of two.