Google is introducing a slew of new features to its Maps, Search, and Hotels platforms to enhance the travel planning experience for users. One of the standout features is the ability of Google Maps to scan screenshots and identify locations, making it easier for users to plan their trips.

The new screenshot feature, powered by Gemini, can detect places mentioned in text within screenshots on a user's device. It will then show the locations on the map, allowing users to review and save them to a sharable list. This feature will start rolling out in English to iOS users in the US this week, with Android support expected to follow soon.

Notably, the screenshot feature does not rely on image recognition, instead requiring visible text to detect locations. This means that users will need to have text-based information about the location in their screenshot for the feature to work.

In addition to the screenshot feature, Google is also updating its AI Overviews for Google Search to expand travel planning tools. The new feature will allow users to create trip itineraries for specific regions or entire countries using natural language queries. For example, users can ask Google to "create a vacation itinerary for Greece that focuses on history," and the platform will provide reviews, photos, and location recommendations that can be saved to Google Maps or exported to Docs or Gmail.

Furthermore, Google is expanding its price drop alerts feature, which is already available for Google Flights, to its hotel search tool. The feature will allow users to track prices for chosen dates and destinations via email notifications, taking into account filters like area, star rating, and beach access. This feature will be available globally on both mobile and desktop browsers.

The new features are part of Google's efforts to make travel planning more efficient and convenient for users. By leveraging AI-powered technology, Google is aiming to provide users with more personalized and relevant travel recommendations, making it easier for them to plan and book their trips.

The rollout of these features comes at a time when the travel industry is increasingly relying on digital platforms to provide users with more personalized and seamless travel experiences. With Google's dominance in the search and mapping space, these new features are likely to have a significant impact on the travel industry as a whole.

As Google continues to innovate and expand its travel planning tools, it will be interesting to see how users respond to these new features and how they will shape the future of travel planning.