Technologies

Google Maps Is Getting More Hands-Free for When You’re Driving

With Gemini AI baked into Maps, Google is looking to make navigation conversational, situational and personal.

Last Thanksgiving, I drove more than 1,000 miles with my dog in the back seat. Finding places to stop — especially dog-friendly restaurants and parks — meant constantly pulling over to search my phone. It was inconvenient and added a good amount of time to my trip, but hey, it was certainly better than one-hand searching on my phone while driving.

Google’s newest update to Maps, amped up by Gemini AI, is designed to help with situations like that. The company announced today that it’s adding Gemini’s conversational AI capabilities directly into the Maps app, bringing more natural and hands-free interactions to the more than 2 billion Maps users worldwide.

Here’s everything that’s new for Google Maps.

Hands-free navigation comes to Google Maps

The most notable change is the addition of Gemini’s conversational mode while navigating. Drivers can now ask detailed, context-aware questions, such as where to find «a restaurant with vegan options and easy parking within a few miles,» without having to type or tap.

Gemini can follow up on requests, too, like adding a calendar reminder for soccer practice or checking on EV charger availability along the route. On Android, it can also share your ETA with contacts by voice.

Drivers can report real-time conditions by saying something like «I see an accident ahead» or «There’s flooding on this road» and Maps will add those safety alerts for other drivers on that route.

Google says Gemini-powered navigation will roll out to Android and iOS in the coming weeks, with Android Auto support to follow.

Turn-by-turn directions are getting more visual

Google is also rethinking how Maps gives directions. Instead of «turn right in 500 feet,» Gemini can reference real-world landmarks like «turn right after the Thai Siam Restaurant» or «turn left before this stop light.»

According to Google, these landmark references come from its database of 250 million mapped places, combined with Street View imagery to ensure what drivers hear actually matches what they see.

This feature is available now for both Android and iOS in the US.

Early warnings for traffic disruptions

A new proactive traffic alert feature will notify users about road closures, backups or other disruptions ahead even if navigation isn’t active.

These alerts are rolling out first in the US on Android devices and are designed to help drivers reroute before getting stuck.

Explore destinations with Gemini and Lens

When you reach your destination, Gemini wants to stay useful through an upgraded version of Lens in Google Maps. By pointing your camera at a building or storefront, Gemini will identify what it is, summarize reviews and highlight popular dishes or items.

You can also ask follow-up questions like, «What’s this place known for?» or «Is it usually busy at lunch?» and get AI-generated answers based on Google’s location data and user feedback.

This update begins rolling out later this month for Android and iOS users in the US.

Gemini’s integration brings Google Maps closer to being a true voice-first navigation assistant. The AI’s ability to understand complex questions about the route, manage personal tasks while you’re driving and describe surroundings could make daily commutes and road trips less stressful — and possibly even safer.

If these tools had been around last Thanksgiving, finding a place to stretch my legs, walk my pup and grab lunch might have been as simple as asking out loud instead of pulling over to a random place and hoping for the best.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Wednesday, Jan. 14

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Jan. 14.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? It’s not too tough, but 8-Across stumped me, so I had to pass on that and fill in the Down answers to solve it. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Abruptly stop texting
Answer: GHOST

6A clue: Shaving kit item
Answer: RAZOR

7A clue: 2024 film role for which Mikey Madison won Best Actress
Answer: ANORA

8A clue: The ancient Chinese used compressed blocks of tea leaves as this
Answer: MONEY

9A clue: Shape of a round chart
Answer: PIE

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Dad’s dad, informally
Answer: GRAMP

2D clue: Capital of Vietnam
Answer: HANOI

3D clue: ___ layer, part of Earth’s atmosphere
Answer: OZONE

4D clue: How you might wake up after sleeping funny
Answer: SORE

5D clue: Cafeteria food carrier
Answer: TRAY

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

Technologies

Google Could Revive Last Year’s Bright Pink Color for the Pixel 10a

Google’s upcoming Pixel 10a is expected to launch in February with some new colors, including one popular ask.

The Google Pixel 9a is one of Google’s most affordable Pixel phones, and it includes one of the most frequently requested colors — bright pink. With the Google Pixel 10a rumored to launch in February, we’re already getting a hint at the colors the new model will come in.

According to Roland Quandt, a regular mobile leaker on Bluesky, the Google Pixel is expected to be offered in obsidian (black), berry (pink), fog (light gray), and lavender colors. However, it’s the berry hue that is intriguing customers.

A representative for Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

«I always love to see phones come in vibrant colors, and it’s especially welcome in more budget-friendly options,» said Abrar Al-Heeti, senior technology reporter at CNET. «Yes, we tend to slap a case on our phones anyway, but just knowing your phone touts a bold color can make it feel like more of a statement piece, rather than a bland piece of tech.»

Pink is one of the most requested color options for the Pixel phones. CNET sister site Mashable loved the color when it debuted on the Pixel 9. Phone rivals like Apple and Samsung are usually expected to offer a pink color option in their flagship and midrange phone lineups, so it’s not surprising to see the berry color on the Pixel 10a.

«I’ll say that Google loves having Pixel phones in pink,» said Patrick Holland, CNET managing editor. «The Pixel 9 and 9a come in peony (a bright, bold pink) and the 9 Pro in rose quartz (a more muted pink). The Pixel 10 series lacks any pinkish hues.»

Quandt also says that the Pixel 10a will have 128GB and 256GB storage models, and will launch in mid-February. That’s earlier than expected compared with the Pixel 9a, which was revealed in mid-March 2025 for a launch on April 10. In terms of specifications, we expect the Pixel 10a to be a modest upgrade compared with previous generations. According to leaks, the Pixel 10 is unlikely to feature a newer Tensor G5 chip, and it’s likely to retain the same overall design as the Pixel 9a.

One leaker, Mystic Leaks on Telegram, expressed disappointment and revealed additional specs, including the absence of a telephoto lens, UFS 3.1 storage, a Tensor G4 chip, a 2,000-nit display and no Magic Cue, which is Google’s AI feature for the Pixel 10.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for Jan. 14, #948

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for Jan. 14 #948.

Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s NYT Connections puzzle is kind of tough. The blue category, not the purple one today, expects you to find hidden words in four of the words given in the grid. Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.

The Times has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including the number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.

Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time

Hints for today’s Connections groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: That’s not going anywhere.

Green group hint: End user or customer.

Blue group hint: Ask a meteorologist.

Purple group hint: Not noisy.