How Google Maps predicts traffic slowdowns before they happen

[Chris Smith]

• Google revealed the intricacies of predicting estimated travel time and estimated time of arrival (ETA) inside Google Maps, detailing the newest upgrades meant to improve the feature.
• Google said Google Maps now uses DeepMind AI technology in its algorithms “to better predict whether or not you’ll be affected by a slowdown that may not have even started yet.”
• Aside from historical traffic information, authoritative data from local governments, and road quality conditions, Google Maps now takes advantage of a feature that was unique to Waze until not too long ago: Incident reports.

One of the best Google Maps features is one you might not think about. When you input a destination point and tell Google to route you according to your preferences, Google Maps will tell you how long the trip will take, and when you’ll arrive. That estimated time of arrival can change according to various factors.

Google can’t predict whether you’ll stop along the way or decide to take a different route. But it can predict almost everything else about your trip, and update the ETA accordingly. Google explained that its estimates are about to get even better, thanks to various innovations. The adoption of DeepMind AI technology from Google’s research lab is one of the sophisticated upgrades of the Maps algorithms. But there’s also a feature that Google borrowed from Waze that will play a role in making those estimates more accurate than before.

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How Google Maps predicts traffic slowdowns before they happen originally appeared on BGR.com on Thu, 3 Sep 2020 at 17:01:18 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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