Millions of Americans will hit the road for Thanksgiving but the worst time to drive to your destination is between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 26.
Millions of Americans will hit the road for Thanksgiving but the worst time to drive to your destination is between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 26.
Google tech expert Bailey Thompson said her team analyzed the engine’s “Search” and “Maps” data to uncover the best strategies for avoiding holiday traffic in the D.C. area.
“A lot of folks are leaving the city, but also a lot of people are having friends and family come visit,” Thompson said. “So understanding when the traffic is peak is really helpful.”
When to hit the road for Thanksgiving festivities
For Thanksgiving travel, Thompson advised leaving before 10 a.m. on Wednesday or waiting until after 8 p.m.
On Thanksgiving Day, expect heavy congestion between noon and 3 p.m. as last‑minute grocery runs spike.
If you plan on shopping on Black Friday, traffic picks up around noon. For your return trips on Saturday or Sunday, the busiest traffic window will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Thompson recommended using Google Maps for real‑time traffic updates and navigation tools powered by artificial intelligence to stay ahead of delays.
Post offices are very busy this time of year, with Saturdays often bringing the longest lines. Thompson said another busy window to avoid is around 2 p.m. on Mondays, when many people stop by during their lunch breaks.
Thompson recommended planning visits for Tuesday afternoons, which tend to be less crowded.
Google also analyzed local shopping trends and found last‑minute shoppers in the D.C. region prefer convenient, all‑in‑one destinations where they can pick up multiple gifts at once. Popular choices include shopping centers, sporting goods stores and festive Christmas markets.
“If they’re looking for a last minute gift, they’re not going to boutiques,” she said. “They’re going somewhere where they can try to knock out a bunch of things.”
The busiest shopping days fall on the Saturdays leading up to Christmas, with the final Saturday before the holiday drawing the heaviest crowds as people scramble for presents.
“We all have very good intentions to get our shopping done,” Thompson said. “Then life happens, and all of a sudden, we’re all behind the ball.”
Once the gifts are opened and you need to handle returns or exchanges, steer clear of the Monday after New Year’s Day.
With many people off work that week, post‑holiday crowds are especially heavy.
“If you need to go Monday, just manage expectations,” Thompson said. “Know that it’s going to be quite busy that day for returns.”
Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.
A Google Earth image shows dozens of human bodies lying in blood in Kumia, Sudan.
Rating:
Rating: Miscaptioned
Context:
The satellite image does appear on Google Earth, but it shows animals gathered around a watering hole, not human bodies. While this specific photo was miscaptioned, verified satellite imagery has documented genuine atrocities elsewhere in Sudan.
In early November 2025, a Google Earth image began circulating on social media, allegedly showing piles of human bodies lying in pools of blood in Kumia, Sudan.
One post (archived) with the photograph, viewed millions of times on X, was captioned: “this is the most disturbing google earth image ever… SPEAK ON THE GENOCIDE OF SUDAN.”
(X user @undsupermegahot)
The image circulated on numerous social media platforms, such as Reddit, Facebook and Threads, often framed as proof of ongoing atrocities in Sudan’s civil war.
In short, the image was indeed available on Google Earth, but the claim about what it depicted was inaccurate. The satellite photo, which shows an area in Kumia, Sudan, actually portrays livestock gathered around a watering hole — not victims of a massacre.
As such, we rated this claim as miscaptioned.
While this particular photo was misinterpreted, other verified satellite images have documented real atrocities elsewhere in Sudan.
What we know about the image
The image circulating online showed dozens of small, indistinct shapes clustered around a circular patch of ground that appeared darker than the surrounding soil. Below is the location (coordinates 10°57’39″N, 26°24’52″E) visible on Google Maps, with the image dating back to March 2024:
Therefore, the image does not represent new evidence that emerged in 2025. As of this writing, no more recent satellite imagery of the location is available on Google Earth or Google Maps.
However, earlier Google Earth imagery from March 2022 depicts the same site with comparable soil markings and a visible fence, confirming the scene was not newly discovered (see image below).
(Google Earth)
The same area is also visible on Apple Maps, though the platform does not indicate when the image was taken. In that version, the figures are clearly identifiable as animals rather than human bodies.
(Apple Maps)
Below is a comparison between Google Maps and Apple Maps images of the exact same location in Kumia, Sudan:
(Google Maps, Apple Maps)
We were unable to independently confirm what specific animals appear in the satellite image. However, the available evidence strongly indicates that they are livestock gathered near a watering site.
The BBC’s verification team reached the same conclusion after analyzing the image, describing it as “wrongly claiming to be evidence of mass killings in Sudan” and explaining it “actually shows cows or other animals at a watering hole.” The article added that the small objects visible on the ground cast shadows in the same direction as nearby structures, indicating that the figures are standing upright on four legs, not lying flat like human bodies. This shadow pattern, together with the consistent appearance of the site across historical satellite imagery, reinforced the conclusion that the scene depicted animals. Speaking to the BBC, Nathaniel Raymond, director of the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab, also confirmed that the image showed cows, not people.
Benjamin Strick, OSINT analyst and Director of Investigations at the Centre for Information Resilience, also commented on the claim, underscoring that while genuine satellite evidence of atrocities in Sudan exists, this particular image was being misrepresented: “There are a lot of horrific images, videos and even satellite images you can use to show the horrors that are happening in Sudan. But this is a watering hole and those are animals. Note it was also there in March 2022.”
(X user @BenDoBrown)
Strick, speaking to France24, further explained: “We do not draw our conclusions solely from satellite images,” underscoring the need to be able to recontextualize these images with other factual elements (we translated the quotes using Google Translate):
Have there been media reports from local journalists or sources on the ground that have confirmed that an abuse did indeed take place and that satellite images captured it? Have there been video sequences that can corroborate this information? It is important to consider what is revealing in satellite images, and what can be inferred from them. We cannot truly distinguish a genocide from satellite images alone, and therefore a multitude of factors must be taken into account
In a similar tone, Nathan Ruser, analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, wrote: “The scale of murder and massacre by the UAE-backed RSF is unimaginable. But these are cow pens full of cows. The key thing when it comes to interpreting satellite imagery is knowing a ‘normal’ baseline,” adding that “the imagery on Google Maps isn’t close to live.”
Real satellite evidence of atrocities in Sudan
In late October 2025, after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized control of El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur in Sudan, international observers warned of widespread abuses against civilians. The United Nations condemned what was described as “atrocities” committed during and after the city’s capture on Oct. 26, 2025, while the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced that it was monitoring events for possible “war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
One of the most detailed open source analyses came from the Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) at the Yale School of Public Health, which on Oct. 28, 2025, published a report titled “Day Two of RSF Control: Mass Killings Continue in El-Fasher.” The HRL analysis, based on satellite imagery, identified “evidence of mass killings including door-to-door clearance operations and objects consistent with reported bodies on berm entrapping El-Fasher.”
According to the HRL report, satellite images from late October showed “lines of dark-colored objects consistent with groups of people stretching from the building to the gate of the compound and a group of people near the same gate.” The report further explained, “this activity may be consistent with large groups of people being present on 27 October 2025, subsequently killed, and their bodies visible in satellite imagery on 28 October 2025.”
All in all, independent analyses demonstrate that, unlike the wildly spread Google Earth image from Kumia, real satellite imagery provides evidence of atrocities in Sudan’s Darfur region.
For further reading, we have also investigated a Google Maps image supposedly captured a furtive corpse disposal.
Google has been replacing Assistant with Gemini across all its apps, and Maps is the latest one getting an upgrade. The AI assistant will let you interact with the app using natural conversation while you navigate the roads hands-free. You can, for instance, ask it: “Is there a budget-friendly Japanese restaurant along my route within a couple of miles?” And after it has responded, you can keep on asking it follow-up questions, such as if a specific restaurant has a parking space and what dishes are popular there. Once you’ve decided on a place, you can simply tell Gemini: “Okay, let’s go there,” to start navigating to it.
You’ll also be able to ask Gemini to do random tasks while it’s navigating and without leaving the Maps app, such as adding events to your Calendar if you allow it to connect to the app. In addition, Gemini will let you report traffic disruptions, simply by saying “there’s flooding ahead” or “I see an accident.” Gemini in Google Maps is rolling out over the next few weeks to Android and iOS in all regions where Gemini is available. It’s also coming to Android Auto in the future.
In the US, Maps is getting more capabilities powered by the AI assistant. You can now get directions that mention landmarks that are easy to spot. Instead of saying “turn left in 500 feet,” for example, Gemini will say “turn left after the Thai Siam Restaurant.” The landmark will also be highlighted in Maps as a visual cue. This feature is now rolling out to both Android and iOS devices. Maps will now proactively notify you of road disruptions on Android, as well, even if you’re not actively navigating. Finally, you’ll be able to use Lens with Gemini within the Maps app when it starts rolling out later this month to Android and iOS. You simply have to tap on the camera in the Maps search bar, point to an establishment and ask it questions about the location, such as “What is this place and why is it popular?”
Google is bringing live lane guidance to Google Maps in cars with the company’s built-in infotainment system, starting with the Polestar 4. Using the vehicle’s front-facing camera, Google Maps will be able to “see” the road just as the driver does. It will then create more detailed depictions of which lane a driver should be in and guide them using visual and audio cues.
Google says the new feature uses AI to analyze lane markings and road signs, which it then integrates in real time with Google Maps’ navigation system. Google paints a picture of fewer missed exits, as its navigation system reminds drivers in the left lane that their exit is coming up on the right side of the highway.
Details are scarce on where exactly this will function. In Google’s blog post announcing the feature, the company says it will expand live lane guidance to “more road types” in the future. We’ve reached out for clarification.
Live lane guidance with Google Maps will be rolling out on the Polestar 4 in the US and Sweden over the coming months. Google says it will expand to include more cars in partnership with other automakers.
Update Nov 4 3:39 PM EST: Google says the feature will only work on highways for now.
Opening Apple’s Maps app just for directions may look a little different in the near future. According to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, Apple is planning to introduce ads to Maps as soon as next year. While it won’t be as annoying as unskippable YouTube ads, Apple wants to offer better visibility on Maps to restaurants and businesses that are willing to pay.
When looking for a new restaurant or relevant business, you may already be used to seeing ads on Google Maps or Yelp that highlight certain establishments. However, Gurman said that Apple is planning to lean on AI for better search results and offer a better interface than Google Maps. The introduction of ads across Apple’s iOS ecosystem shouldn’t be surprising since Gurman previously reported Apple’s interest back in 2022. On top of that, Apple already offers ad slots within the App Store where developers can pay to appear in a more visible position for user searches. Beyond Maps, Apple could be looking at infusing ads into its News, Books, Podcasts and other apps to generate more revenue.
Google Gemini is coming to GM vehicles in 2026. The company will be integrating a conversational AI assistant powered by Google’s platform into many of its cars, trucks and SUVs.
GM says this assistant will be able to access vehicle data to suss out maintenance concerns, alerting the driver when necessary. The company also promises it’ll be able to help plan routes and explain various features of the car. It should also be able to do stuff like turn on the heat or air conditioning, even before entering the vehicle.
This will replace the “Google built-in” operating system that already exists in many GM vehicles. This OS already offers access to stuff like Google Maps, Google Assistant and related apps. The upcoming Gemini-based chat assistant will do the same type of things, but it should perform better.
“One of the challenges with current voice assistants is that, if you’ve used the, you’ve probably also been frustrated by them because they’re trained on certain code words or they don’t understand accents very well or if you don’t say it quite right, you don’t get the right response,” GM VP Dave Richardson told TechCrunch. “What’s great about large language models is they don’t seem to be affected by that.”
One brand-new feature that Gemini will bring to the table is web integration. This will let drivers ask the chatbot questions pertaining to geographic location and the like. GM gives an example of someone asking about the history of a bridge they are passing over.
The Gemini assistant will be available via the Play Store after launch as an over-the-air upgrade to Onstar-equipped vehicles. It won’t be limited to newer releases, as GM says it’ll work with vehicles from the model year 2015 and above. The company also says it’s working on its own AI chatbot that has been “custom-built for your vehicle.” There’s no timetable on that one.
GM ran into hot water recently when it was found that it had been selling some customer information sourced from its OnStar Smart Driver program to insurance companies without user consent. This led to the FTC banning the company from selling any driver data for five years. Richardson says the Gemini integration will be privacy-focused and the software will let drivers control what information it can access and use.
The company made these announcements at the GM Forward media event, where it also discussed other forthcoming initiatives. It has scheduled a rollout of its self-driving platform for 2028. It’s also developing its own computing platform, also launching in 2028. This does mean that GM will be sunsetting integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This software will be phased out over the next few years.
South Korea is nearing a decision on whether to allow Google and Apple to export high-resolution geographic map data to servers outside the country. The detailed maps, which use a 1:5,000 scale, would show streets, buildings, and alleyways in far greater detail than currently available on these platforms. However, several regulatory and security hurdles remain unresolved.
Earlier this week, South Korea’s National Assembly Defense Committee held a parliamentary audit of Google Korea. Lawmakers questioned the company’s requests for local map data, raising concerns over national security and digital sovereignty. The session comes two months after Seoul postponed its decision on Google’s request to export high-resolution map data in August, following an earlier delay in May.
A policymaker has warned that Google’s satellite maps could endanger national security by exposing sensitive military sites when combined with commercial imagery and online data. The lawmaker is urging the government to gain authority to monitor and regulate the export of high-resolution geographic information. Given that South Korea remains technically at war with North Korea, the government is cautious about exposing such locations.
The government’s final decision on Google Maps is expected around November 11, or possibly even earlier, a South Korean government official told TechCrunch. Last month, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced it would extend the review period by an additional 60 days.
In February, Google requested, for the third time in South Korea, permission from the Korean National Geographic Information Institute to use a 1:5,000 scale map, which provides much greater details, in its app and to transfer the map data to servers outside of South Korea. Currently, Google uses a 1:25,000 scale map that includes points of interest and satellite imagery. Local navigation apps such as Naver Map, T Map, and Kakao Map are the most popular among local users. These apps offer map data at a scale of 1:5,000, and therefore, much more information and detail, giving them a significant competitive advantage.
In 2011 and again in 2016, South Korean authorities turned down Google’s request for access to the country’s map data. Officials made clear that approval would hinge on the company opening a local data center and obscuring sensitive locations, including national security sites, citing security concerns. Google declined to meet these conditions.
After South Korea rejected approval in August, Google reportedly agreed to obscure the locations of the country’s security sites on Google Maps and Google Earth. The company is blurring sensitive installations to address government concerns over satellite imagery and is reportedly exploring the purchase of government-approved satellite data from local providers, including T Map.
Techcrunch event
San Francisco | October 27-29, 2025
Google did not immediately respond to a TechCrunch request for comment.
Under South Korea’s Geospatial Information Management Act (Article 16), government survey data — such as maps and satellite images — cannot be sent abroad without approval from the entire Cabinet. Passed in the 1970s, the law continues to underpin the country’s strict control over geospatial data.
Map data has become a sensitive national security issue in conflict zones worldwide. The Israeli army asked Google Maps to turn off real-time traffic data in Israel and Gaza in 2023, just as it did in Ukraine after Russia’s 2022 invasion. And in 2009, European regulators had urged Google to delete original Street View images over privacy concerns.
Apple follows Google in seeking South Korea map data
It’s not just Google making moves. Apple also requested in June to export high-resolution map data from South Korea at a 1:5,000 scale. That came after its initial request in 2023 was turned down.
While Google keeps its map servers outside Korea, Apple operates local servers, a distinction the government weighs when reviewing requests. Local servers allow authorities to respond swiftly to security concerns at sensitive sites.
Last month, South Korea postponed its decision on allowing Apple to export high-precision digital map data, pushing the review to December.
Reports suggest Apple may show more flexibility than Google in adhering to government-imposed restrictions, including blurring, masking, or lowering the resolution of sensitive sites. The company is also said to plan to use SK Telecom’s T Map as its primary base map data source.
Apple did not respond to TechCrunch’s requests for comment.
Google and Apple are upgrading their maps with detailed building footprints, alleyways, and precise street-level data to enhance navigation, which could also support advanced technologies like self-driving cars and drone deliveries. For South Korea, exporting high-resolution map data could boost tourism, promote local businesses, and drive smart city innovation, while giving the government leverage to enforce security safeguards. Critics, however, warn that the move may primarily benefit U.S. tech giants rather than domestic users.
Google Maps has a broader global reach, covering 250 countries and territories, while Apple Maps is available in just over 200 regions, per a report.
China is ending its antitrust probe into Google, which had centered around Android’s ubiquity in the mobile world and what impact, if any, it was having on Chinese phone makers like Oppo and Xiaomi that use the software. As reported by the , this move comes amid ongoing discussions between the US and Chinese governments over , , tariffs and the broader trading relationship between the world’s two largest economies.
Google’s search engine remains blocked in China, along with many of its other core products like Gmail, YouTube and Google Maps. Despite this, the tech giant still generates substantial revenue in the country through cloud services and ad sales to Chinese companies targeting overseas audiences.
According to the Financial Times, the decision by Beijing to ease up on Google is a tactical move, as China increasingly flexes its regulatory scrutiny on NVIDIA as a negotiating tool during trade talks with the US.
Earlier this summer NVIDIA with the Trump administration to sell its pared-back H20 GPUs in China on the condition that it gives the US government 15 percent of the sales. Shortly thereafter, however, China began local companies from buying the H20 chips. Recently, the government Chinese tech companies from buying NVIDIA’s newest AI chip made specifically for the region, the RTX Pro 6000D.
In yet another move to exert control and flex power, Chinese regulators have accused NVIDIA of with its acquisition of chipmaker Mellanox. Were the chipmaker to be found in violation of China’s anti-monopoly law, the company could owe fines between 1 percent and 10 percent of its 2024 sales.
US and Chinese officials just wrapped three days of trade talks in Madrid, with President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping set to speak on Friday. The leaders are expected to discuss a supposed framework for a that would cede control of the company’s US business to American companies, resulting in a roughly 80 percent stake in the entity domestically.
Google Maps is in the process of recovering from an outage that left the mobile version of the service unable to fully load its map or provide directions. Over 4,000 reports were filed on Downdetector since the outage started, and Google’s Status Dashboard noted that the company was investigating an issue with the Maps SDK and Navigation SDK at 3:34PM ET.
At the peak of the outage, both the Android and iOS versions of Google Maps were unable to fully load a map, display listings or provide directions. In at least one case, the apps also showed an error message saying that Google Maps “Cannot reach server.” Whatever caused the outage hasn’t extend to the web version of the navigation service, which continues to work as normal.
Ian Carlos Campbell for Engadget
Google’s dashboard updated to say that “mitigation work is currently underway by our engineering team” and that it was “seeing indications of recovery” at around 5:22PM ET. Around 30 minutes later, the company said that the issue was partially resolved, but that it couldn’t share “an ETA for full resolution at this point.”
In the description of the issue on Google’s Status Dashboard, Google has yet to provide an explanation for the outage or detailed what it’s doing to fix the issue. Engadget has contacted Google for more information and will update this article if we here back.
Google’s last major outage occurred in June, though it was primarily concentrated in the company’s Google Cloud service. Given the number of clients who use Google Cloud, the outage impacted everything from Spotify to Snapchat for multiple hours.
Update, September 11, 2025, 6:09PM ET: Updated article again to include details from Google’s Status Dashboard.
Update, September 11, 2025, 5:38PM ET: Updated article to include new information shared on Google’s Status Dashboard.
Hover the cursor over the Layers panel (bottom right), then click Biking. The map will then adjust the way routes are marked for cyclists, with different types of lines for trails, dedicated bike lanes, bicycle-friendly roads, and unpaved trails.
Add Your Own Locations
There are some spots that may be personal to you—the picnic area, usual parking space, the park bench, the friend’s house—that aren’t publicly marked on Google Maps. If they’re not marked, they’re harder to get to when you’re searching or navigating.
You can fix this by creating your own place: Tap and hold on a spot in the mobile app to drop a pin, then pull up the info card and choose Add label. These labels then show up in search results as flags on the map, and in your saved places.
Remember Where You Parked
Never lose your parking spot again.
Courtesy of David Nield
There’s no need to waste time hunting for your car after a long day. Google Maps can remember it for you. When you’ve parked up, tap on the blue dot on the map in the mobile app, then choose Save parking from the panel that pops up.
When it’s time to get back, just search for “parking” in the app, to see the created label. You can also pan around the map to find the “you parked here” flag—tap on it and you can get directions right to the exact spot.
Report an Accident on the Road
Help out fellow Google Maps users by reporting accidents you come across on your travels: If you’re in navigation mode in the mobile app, tap the icon on the right (a plus symbol inside a search bubble), then choose one of the options listed.
These options actually vary by country, but you should see Crash as one of them. (Roadworks, congestion, and stalled vehicles are also sometimes listed.) If Google Maps gets enough of these individual reports, a warning will appear on the map for everyone.
Answer Questions About Places
Ask questions to help out other Google Maps users.
Courtesy of David Nield
The social and community aspects of Google Maps tend to go overlooked, but you can find them via the Contribute tab in the mobile app. Tap Contribute now and you can answer some simple yes or no questions about places you’ve visited recently.
Maps will ask you about the place’s opening hours, whether it has valet parking, accessible entrances, and so on. Remember that one day you might be grateful that someone else made contributions like this, because they’ve helped you out in your own travels.
2024 marks the fourth year since the COVID-19 pandemic shocked the world. Four years on, normalcy has finally returned, and a lot of industries have seen a return to pre-pandemic life.
One of the biggest industries to rebound from the pandemic was the tourism industry. The United Nations estimates that global tourism will return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year. If no other major global events occur, we will soon see tourism numbers grow even more drastically from pre-pandemic numbers.
Tourism growth is an opportunity for the tech industry to create new ways of traveling using new and up-and-coming technologies.
The VR revolution of tourism
During the pandemic, Virtual Reality (VR) has become one of the key technology replacing travel and tourism. As lockdowns stopped all forms of transportation, companies scrambled to create new solutions to keep travel destinations afloat. One of the most common solutions is virtual tours.
Virtual tours (sometimes distinguished as 360 virtual tours) are either photographic tours or video tours of certain destinations. This should be distinguished from Virtual Reality tours which utilize VR technology for a more immersive virtual tour. While the two may have differences, they essentially do the same thing, showcasing the world to more people.
In the last couple of years, virtual tours have taken off, mostly on streaming and video-sharing platforms. You can find a lot of virtual walking tours on YouTube, while In Real Life (IRL) streamers take viewers (via a camera) with them live. Virtual tours such as these give the audience a taste or glimpse of what they would expect to see if they were there.
Meanwhile, Virtual Reality is shifting the way tourism and traveling can be done in the future. VR technology allows us to have a greater immersive experience than regular photos and videos. While it still would not beat going to the real thing it has its purpose. For one VR technology can help tell the story of historical sites in even greater detail, imagine yourself being sent back to ancient Greece or Renaissance-era Italy.
Beyond history and education, VR can be a force in the hotel and other accommodation industries. Here, tourists can experience the hotel firsthand through VR first before booking. They can also use this to effectively visualize the location and what they would expect when getting there.
Finally, VR in itself can also be an attraction. All over the world theme parks have adapted VR rides as part of their attractions. Others have created VR-based escape rooms and other VR-related amenities to attract new audiences.
AR and a new way to see the world
Another tech that changed the world of traveling is augmented reality (AR). Unlike VR, AR mixes the real world with virtual reality to create a new interactive experience. AR technology has been a part of tourism for quite a while now. Museums have integrated interactive AR exhibits to draw in visitors, while others have utilized AR to further expand on the topic presented.
Recently, AR has taken an even broader step in the tourism and travel industry. Google Maps’ Live View mode changed the way navigation can be done. This system utilizes your phone’s GPS as well as the camera to identify where you are exactly. The phone then displays a massive arrow that points you in the direction of where you want to go. This solution is helpful for individuals who have a hard time navigating with regular maps. It’s also useful in instances when the map is unclear on which small side street you need to get into.
Beyond navigation, AR technology has also been used in some historical sites. Certain historical sites from around the world have leveraged AR technology to bring history back to life.
AI and Travel
If there’s one thing the tech world is ablaze with this 2024, it’s Artificial Intelligence (AI). Innovations in AI and machine learning have made a mark in the world of tech, and soon, they will make a mark in the world of travel and tourism.
Large Language Model AI has already demonstrated its capabilities to create tailored tasks specific to what the user needs. This allows it to fit easily into other service-oriented websites or apps. Using language model AI, travelers can easily create a travel itinerary suited to their needs.
AI has also found its way into travel assistants. Certain apps utilize AI to create, manage, and keep track of their travel necessities, such as finding necessary travel documents, bookings of hotels and lodgings, and even keeping track of travel expenses.
But undoubtedly, the biggest advancement of AI in traveling is the arrival of AI-integrated smartphones. In the last couple of months, smartphone makers have successfully integrated complex AI into their smartphones.
Google and Samsung have showcased the capabilities of Google’s Gemini and Samsung AI built in their latest flagship devices. One of the most important features showcased was the live call translation capabilities. This technology allows users to speak into their phone, which in turn translates their speech directly to the caller on the other end. The technology is seamless and quick, without you needing to pause for translation to catch up. Gone are the days when finger-pointing and head-scratching were the means of survival when lost in translation.
Traveling and technology have greatly changed in the last few years. Some adaptations from the pandemic have taken part to become the future of traveling, while others have just further developed in time to elevate our travels to the next level.
Words by Gabriel Pe Also published GADGETS MAGAZINE April 2024 Issue
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The family of a North Carolina man who died after driving his car off a collapsed bridge while following Google Maps directions is suing the technology giant for negligence, claiming it had been informed of the collapse but failed to update its navigation system.
Philip Paxson, a medical device salesman and father of two, drowned Sept. 30, 2022, after his Jeep Gladiator plunged into Snow Creek in Hickory, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Wake County Superior Court.
Paxson was driving home from his daughter’s ninth birthday party through an unfamiliar neighborhood when Google Maps allegedly directed him to cross a bridge that had collapsed nine years prior and was never repaired.
“Our girls ask how and why their daddy died, and I’m at a loss for words they can understand because, as an adult, I still can’t understand how those responsible for the GPS directions and the bridge could have acted with so little regard for human life,” his wife, Alicia Paxson, said.
The family of a North Carolina man who died after driving his car off a collapsed bridge while following Google Maps directions is suing the technology giant for negligence, claiming it had been informed of the collapse but failed to update its navigation system.
State troopers who found Paxton’s body in his overturned and partially submerged truck had said there were no barriers or warning signs along the washed-out roadway. He had driven off an unguarded edge and crashed about 20 feet below, according to the lawsuit.
The North Carolina State Patrol had said the bridge was not maintained by local or state officials, and the original developer’s company had dissolved. The lawsuit names several private property management companies that it claims are responsible for the bridge and the adjoining land.
Multiple people had notified Google Maps about the collapse in the years leading up to Paxson’s death and had urged the company to update its route information, according to the lawsuit.
The Tuesday court filing includes email records from another Hickory resident who had used the map’s “suggest an edit” feature in September 2020 to alert the company that it was directing drivers over the collapsed bridge. A November 2020 email confirmation from Google confirms the company received her report and was reviewing the suggested change, but the lawsuit claims Google took no further actions.
“We have the deepest sympathies for the Paxson family,” Google spokesperson José Castañeda told The Associated Press. “Our goal is to provide accurate routing information in Maps and we are reviewing this lawsuit.”
Hannah Schoenbaum is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
.jpg)
