Apple Maps May Soon Start Showing Ads to Users

Apple is reportedly planning to start displaying ads within its Maps app, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported yesterday. The first ads could appear in Apple Maps starting next year, allowing restaurants and other locations to pay to get more exposure in search results.

As you may know, Apple already shows ads in apps like the App Store and Apple News, though the latter is only available in select markets. Apple Maps looks like an appropriate place to introduce search ads, even though users who prefer its ad-free interface compared to alternatives like Google Maps will likely disagree.

“I’m told the Maps version will have a better interface than what Google and other companies offer inside of mapping services. The Apple approach also will leverage AI to ensure that results are relevant and useful,” Gurman reported yesterday.

Apple starting to shove ads into more of its apps may not sit well with users paying a premium for its devices. Ads in the App Store may not feel too intrusive for most users, but a navigation app like Apple Maps probably has a more important purpose. That’s why Apple, which remains a challenger in the mapping services market, will need to be careful not to push users away.