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Google Deploys Gemini-Powered Tools Across Search, Maps, Waze and Gemini for World Cup

The company has pushed live match dashboards, navigation updates and generative visuals into core apps to showcase Gemini and a temporarily tiered set of paid features that will be made free this summer.

Overview

  • Google began rolling coordinated World Cup features on June 8 and had match dashboards, Maps and Waze updates and Gemini’s live-referencing visuals available across North America by June 10.
  • Search now surfaces real-time match dashboards with live scores, lineups, standings and a lock-screen pin that updates on iOS and Android for followed matches.
  • AI Mode in Search can generate interactive visuals and perform agentic tasks such as ticket booking but those advanced functions are currently limited to AI Mode Pro and Ultra subscribers.
  • Maps and Waze received tournament-specific updates including refreshed stadium Street View, traffic, road-closure and transit info and a Waze feature that shows live scores when a car is stopped.
  • Gemini can reference live games for up-to-date scores and highlights, offers paid Scheduled Actions for custom digests, and is rolling out Nano Banana image templates that let users place themselves into World Cup scenes while Google’s wider push raises questions about accuracy, privacy and short-term monetization.