It's fascinating how many tasks you remember while driving: Add milk to the shopping list, text a friend your ETA, look up the best things to do during your upcoming trip and so on. But taking your hands off the wheel isn't the smartest move. That's where Google Maps' new Gemini-powered AI feature might help. 

As part of an update shared last month, Google is adding hands-free capabilities to its Maps app, powered by Gemini. Now, as you're navigating to your destination, you can just say, "Hey, Google" and ask about anything, from the best vegan cafe on your route to the top five attractions in your area. You can even get details about the parking situation at your destination -- to hopefully avoid the nightmare of parallel parking. 

"It's the first truly conversational, hands-free Gemini experience on Google Maps," said Vishal Dutta, a product manager for Google Maps. "You can just treat it as a friend who is sitting right next to you, who also happens to be a local expert and is very intelligent at the same time."

Gemini in Google Maps is rolling out across iOS, Android and Android Auto. I took it for a spin around Google's headquarters in Mountain View, California. You can check out my experience in the video above. 

While navigating to a nearby park, I decided to ask Gemini about the best nearby cafe with pastries -- and plenty of parking. It gave me a list of options, and once I settled on one, it rerouted us to the detour. Throughout the journey, I also asked Gemini to make a shopping list and add milk, which it did in Google Keep. I also had it add events to my Google Calendar for breakfast and dinner later that week. I could even report construction as I drove by, and I didn't have to touch my phone once. 

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Some features are only available on Android right now, like having Gemini play or recommend music, or sending a text via voice command. We switched out my iPhone for a Pixel phone to see those capabilities in action, and Gemini responded to queries about the best upcoming rock guitarist and sent a text including our ETA without any hiccups. 

I can see this feature being especially helpful when you need to add a stop along your route, or are afraid you'll forget to do something if you don't write it down immediately. And because this latest Gemini capability is built into Google Maps, it doesn't matter if your car doesn't have a high-tech infotainment system -- all you need is your smartphone. Keeping your hands on the wheel and off your phone can help keep everyone safe. 

You can check out our guide on all the new features arriving on Google Maps.