New Google Maps feature uses your car’s camera and AI for lane-level directions

Missed an exit because you were marooned in the wrong lane? Google’s next Maps upgrade aims to fix exactly that—by paying attention to the lane you’re actually in. The feature, called live lane guidance, will roll out in the U.S. over the next few months to vehicles with Google built-in, with Sweden joining at launch for one early model.

What it does (and why it matters)

Instead of treating a road like a single ribbon of asphalt, live lane guidance tailors navigation to your exact lane position. If you’re cruising in the far left lane but need a right-side exit, it will prompt you—visually and with audio—to shift over in time. Think of it as a co-pilot who notices your lane discipline before the highway does.

How it works

The system combines your car’s front-facing camera feed—capturing lane markings and road signs—with on-device AI that interprets those cues in real time. That analysis is then fused with Google Maps navigation, producing step-by-step instructions that reflect both the route and your actual lane. The result: directions that feel less generic and more like they were made for the lane you’re in.

Where it lands first

• Initial availability: United States (broadly)

• First supported car: Polestar 4 with Google built-in

• Also at launch: Sweden (for Polestar 4 models)

Google says it will expand to more road types and additional vehicles as partnerships with automakers grow.

Google Maps already gets you there; live lane guidance is about making sure you get there without last-second swerves. Camera vision plus AI, baked directly into cars with Google built-in, could make unfamiliar interchanges feel a lot less chaotic.