Twenty years ago, Google co-founder Larry Page he had an idea that would forever change the way we view the world.

“Larry drove one of these streets with a video camera and handed it to someone and said, ‘Hey, what can you do with this?’” said Maria Biggs, technical program manager for Google Street View, a popular feature in Google Maps. .

In a car equipped with the latest Street View camera, Biggs took CNBC for a ride near Google’s headquarters in Silicon Valley. The first one was introduced in 2022, it is the first type of camera that can be added to any car, instead of being built into the car.

“We’re going to Hawaii with these next-generation cameras because we don’t have to send a whole car,” Biggs said. “We can just put the camera system in a box and send it over there and rent the car while we’re there.”

Biggs said the new technology will allow Google to update data in other areas for the first time in 10 years.

“We can easily move these cameras and have new information on our map,” he said.

It’s more than that 2 billion monthly usersGoogle Maps is global above navigation app. As Maps approaches its 20th anniversary in February, Google is working hard to continue to lead, with the help of new cameras, and artificial intelligence.

Invisible cameras allow Google to make updates to many countries. It is also creating at least three new maps – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Namibia, and Liechtenstein. Street View cameras are a key part of how Google maps data, but it also relies on satellite and aerial imagery, and information from more than 1,000 third-party sources, such as governments and users. This massive data collection system allows Google to provide maps in over 250 countries and territories.

Gemini also supports voice-activated reporting in Waze, which Google bought in 2013 for $1.3 billion. That information is fed into Google Maps to help warn drivers on both apps of potential hazards in real time.

“We believe our products help people navigate more confidently and safely,” said Chris Phillips, vice president and general manager of Google Geo, the division that powers Maps. He added that Waze is also helping to improve road safety by “notifying people that a certain road has had problems in the past, and we’ve seen a big change in people’s behavior when driving on those roads.”

Waze is also known for providing alternative routes.

“We’re going to give you some attractive options along the way,” said Phillips, in terms of “eliminating traffic and getting around.”

But there are other ways the amount of traffic in some areas, where small roads may not be prepared for large traffic.

Phillips said Google only uses public roads and works with local authorities to enforce specific road laws.

“The use of these driving apps, whether embedded or on mobile devices, is almost universal,” said James Hodgson, who covers automotive at ABI Research.

Hodgson said that one problem right now is that the technology is controlled by the users. In order to improve, he said, “we are approaching the point where it is necessary to have a broad, almost ship-like mind.”

The “biggest hurdle” Google has faced, Hodgson said, is around data privacy.

Recognizing information such as faces and license plates are not visible on Google Maps, and users can request that you do not appear in another location on Street View to avoid accidents such as thieves scanning their property.

Users can also turn off location history or delete visited locations. Some places like abortion clinics or domestic violence shelters it is automatically deleted. In December, Google began storing location history on devices instead of a cloud, making it difficult adults to get historical information.

The amount of money Google spends, and makes, on Maps is hidden. Parent company Alphabet does not release its Maps access reports, and integration with other services such as Search and YouTube. One of the predictions is from 2019 Morgan Stanley The Maps forecast report will go from $2.95 billion in revenue in 2019 to $11 billion in 2023.

The money is built on a model that Google knows very well: advertising.

“We’ve always focused on giving people results, when they’re searching for restaurants or places, that best match what they’re looking for,” Phillips said. “And merchants have the opportunity to actually pay for advertising to have their site appear on that list.”

Google also makes money by selling app features that contain detailed data to solar companies looking for new customers. It contains highly accurate photos of the roofs, dimensions, elevation and shade of approximately 480 million buildings in 40 countries.

Google sells its access Maps Platform to companies including Wayfair and Dominoes. Developers have used it to create more than 10 million websites and apps for things like food delivery, location sharing, and location sharing. For example, in 2019, Uber he said paid Google $58 million on his mapping technology over the past three years.

About Google Android Automotive operating systemand Map, it also makes money. They power infotainment systems in many cars from Polestar, Volvo, Honda, GM and Ford.

As robotaxis advances, accurate mapping is essential, and a huge opportunity for Google.

Waymo that owns the alphabet dominated the US robotaxi market in 2024, and Phoenix commuters can hail one of the autonomous vehicles from the Google Maps app. Robotaxis also offers the possibility of a good rotation.

“I think Waymo’s desire, and something that we see from every autonomous vehicle provider, is to try to close that door and use the same cars that benefit from mapping to also help with mapping,” Hodgson said. “That’s the future of where maps are going in driving.”

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