Apple Reportedly Moving Ahead With Ads in Maps App

[TallManNY]

Go for it Apple. You've got two, maybe three years, before all search on device is done through an AI app. My AI might return an ad, but I'm pretty sure I won't be opening Apple Maps three years from now to find a restaurant. Today I do that all the time now because I know where I would like to eat, but just want some ideas for some options (or to remind of the name of a restaurant that I remember general location, but don't recall the name). I will be asking an AI agent to serve up some options three years from now.

 

[I7guy]

Go for it Apple. You've got two, maybe three years, before all search on device is done through an AI app. My AI might return an ad, but I'm pretty sure I won't be opening Apple Maps three years from now to find a restaurant. Today I do that all the time now because I know where I would like to eat, but just want some ideas for some options (or to remind of the name of a restaurant that I remember general location, but don't recall the name). I will be asking an AI agent to serve up some options three years from now.

I’m pretty sure Apple is prepared.

 

[TwoBytes]

Go for it Apple. You've got two, maybe three years, before all search on device is done through an AI app. My AI might return an ad, but I'm pretty sure I won't be opening Apple Maps three years from now to find a restaurant. Today I do that all the time now because I know where I would like to eat, but just want some ideas for some options (or to remind of the name of a restaurant that I remember general location, but don't recall the name). I will be asking an AI agent to serve up some options three years from now.

This is such a key post that really will be the future as this is happening—at least to me. Apple should take note and act on this—it is amazing summarised!!

 

[iPhoneFan5349]

Literal Steve Jobs rolling right now

Apple Maps better has to be careful with their ad implementation since they don't have a leg up on anything after that. Their Yelp integration is awful/outdated and Google has vastly more data at their fingertips. Additionally, for car integration Google Maps now shows up in my HUD on the new iOS 26 where it use to only be Apple. If Apple includes ads then I'm left wondering why I don't switch to Google which is literally better at everything else including public transit.

Maybe sharing ETA with people???

Google doesn’t show adds?

 

[digimc]

This is garbage and I’m totally against it but it’s funny to see how much people view Steve Jobs with rose colored glasses.

If anyone didn’t know, Steve wanted to put ads directly into macOS. Including playing during startup.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/steve-jobs-idea-for-ad-supported-operating-systems-was-nearly-a-reality.1363642/

Yep it is really sad the way Jobs legacy has been misshaped since his death. I understand the man died from cancer and that he should be remembered for his legacy and I respect what he did in terms of helping to build Apple. But Jobs was not the great visionary most people see him as.

And most of the innovating that Apple has accomplished has come since his death, not before it. But people can think what they wish. Sometimes it's not worth arguing with them. Let them think what they wish to. Ignorance is bliss.

 

[one more]

“The project will apparently give restaurants and other businesses the option to pay to have their details featured more prominently in search.

Gurman warned that the move risks some amount of consumer backlash.”

As long as those businesses don’t pop up in my face as I drive, a-la old Waze, I don’t really mind. If it is just search-related, with the highest bidder just going higher in the search results, this should not be a problem, IMO.

 

[one more]

Google doesn’t show adds?

Not in your face, no.

 

[Mity]

So, why am I paying an Apple premium again? If Apple and Google's business models are converging, then I should just choose the device that offers the best services. MOST of the services that I use are Google: Gmail, Google Maps, Google Docs/Sheets.

This is going to backfire for Apple.

 

[4k78]

I guess it’s back to Mapquest. 🤣

 

[burgman]

steve said in one of the keynotes that apple builds products and software they use themselves and they dont like ads "so lets dont have ads".

So 2010 and peak Steve Jobs syndrome.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Literal Steve Jobs rolling right now

Or…

Steve Jobs Reportedly Envisioned Ad-Supported OS

The idea, never implemented, would give customers a free version of the Mac operating system in exchange for occasional advertisements that users would be forced to watch. Mr. Segall explains that customers would still have the option to purchase the standard version of OS 9, but those without...

www.macobserver.com

A real thing Steve wanted to do, even got patents for it and everything.

steve said in one of the keynotes that apple builds products and software they use themselves and they dont like ads "so lets dont have ads".

Apple Introduces iAds Mobile Advertising Platform

Image courtesy of Gizmodo.com Another major feature that Apple introduced with iPhone 4 was the introduction of their new "iAd" mobile ad service. Apple promises more interactive in-app ads for advertisers and to be deployed by developers in their (presumably free) apps. The ads will be created...

www.macrumors.com

Steve said… Steve sai… Steve said… but what did Steve actually do?

 

[novagamer]

It would be significantly better if you are displeased with this you email Apple executives now vs. when it launches.

Tim does care about customer sat. I doubt they'd change policy but at least might change their approach, or an outside chance of adding a toggle. If their revenue or ad-buys depend on viewers perhaps they'd allow you to turn it off (I doubt it would be opt-in).

tcook@apple.com

 

[ApplePlectic]

Nothing says "we love our customers" like slapping ads into the middle of everything. Totally absurd. As if Apple didn't already have enough profit off the backs of consumers. Maybe they're using the additional revenue to offset their legal costs because they seem to get sued every other day.

 

[Heelpir8]

Go for it Apple. You've got two, maybe three years, before all search on device is done through an AI app. My AI might return an ad, but I'm pretty sure I won't be opening Apple Maps three years from now to find a restaurant. Today I do that all the time now because I know where I would like to eat, but just want some ideas for some options (or to remind of the name of a restaurant that I remember general location, but don't recall the name). I will be asking an AI agent to serve up some options three years from now.

I’m pretty sure Apple is prepared.

You’re pretty sure Apple is prepared for AI when they’ve pretty clearly been unprepared for AI?

 

[burgman]

We can tell. Just look at the state of Apple.

You're holding it wrong... The good old days

 

[I7guy]

You’re pretty sure Apple is prepared for AI when they’ve pretty clearly been unprepared for AI?

There’s a difference between being prepared and delivering late vs not being prepared. So yeah, Apple is prepared for ai and tallmans hypothetication.

 

[digimc]

Or…

Steve Jobs Reportedly Envisioned Ad-Supported OS

The idea, never implemented, would give customers a free version of the Mac operating system in exchange for occasional advertisements that users would be forced to watch. Mr. Segall explains that customers would still have the option to purchase the standard version of OS 9, but those without...

www.macobserver.com

A real thing Steve wanted to do, even got patents for it and everything.

Apple Introduces iAds Mobile Advertising Platform

Image courtesy of Gizmodo.com Another major feature that Apple introduced with iPhone 4 was the introduction of their new "iAd" mobile ad service. Apple promises more interactive in-app ads for advertisers and to be deployed by developers in their (presumably free) apps. The ads will be created...

www.macrumors.com

Steve said… Steve sai… Steve said… but what did Steve actually do?

🤣 I would be a millionaire if I had a dollar every time someone on MR said 'Steve Said this' when he never did.

 

[Heelpir8]

You’re pretty sure Apple is prepared for AI when they’ve pretty clearly been unprepared for AI?

There’s a difference between being prepared and delivering late vs not being prepared. So yeah, Apple is prepared for ai and tallmans hypothetication.

Hope you’re right. Apple’s been talking about it without delivering since the iPhone 16 line was released.

 

[ApplePlectic]

I'm getting Ad'ed out. I honestly don't understand how these ads make money. Whenever I see any sort of pop-up ad or an ad anywhere where I don't want to see one (which is almost everywhere), I just get pissed at the company the ad is for. I don't buy anything from these types of ads. Do people really see adds in apps and actually buy whatever they are peddling? If so, that is sad. Don't do that, and we will eventually see less of them.

100%. If an ad pops up in the news apps I use (or any app for that matter), I immediately kill the app. I can find the content I'm looking for elsewhere without the rude interruptions and distractions (although it's getting harder and harder to do). Corporate greed is out of control (as any fan of the NFL will attest).

 

[ProbablyDylan]

Green line must go up. It's not enough to sell millions of phones at huge margins. It's not enough to make billions in iCloud revenue.

 

[antiprotest]

Ad-ple

 

[mr.steevo]

I just used Maps this morning. When I got to a fork in the road it didn’t tell me if I turn left or right. This neighborhood has been around for 75 years and Maps still can’t get it right.

But at least it will tell me how to get to Rotten Ronnies with an ad.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

If they start putting Ad’s in paid services such as Apple Music or Apple TV, I won’t think twice about cancelling Apple One and pirating everything.

Sorry to inform you of this, but there have been advertisements in both TV and Apple Music since the day they launched.
Anyone remember the F1 notification from literally earlier this year?
Or the 20 million they paid Drake in 2015, then sent every Apple Music subscriber notifications about his new albums and such for several years after that, even if they weren’t even interested in his genre, let alone him and his music?

 

[TallManNY]

There’s a difference between being prepared and delivering late vs not being prepared. So yeah, Apple is prepared for ai and tallmans hypothetication.

As a long time Apple user I'm going to agree that this is likely true. I think Apple is putting more and more RAM into their machines to get ready for locally run AI agents. Now where the agent comes from I think it is TBD (it doesn't seem like it will be just "better" Siri). But one of Apple's core competencies is User Interfaces (with rich legacy of better mouse control, touch screen control and trackpad control) and they must be preparing for interactions shifting from user controlled to AI agent controlled as this is an existential risk for Apple.

 

[Arran]

Back in the old days when searching in maps was unreliable I just added favorite businesses to my contacts and navigated to them that way.

Then search improved so I started using that instead. Bonus was I could delete the old contacts and declutter.

Sigh. Guess it's back to plan A.