Facebook is updating its Map With AI service that will include more road coverage, additional tooling and artificial intelligence building support via a partnership with Microsoft.
The social networking giant released its Map With AI service in June. Map With AI started as a project to make OpenStreetMap, the largest free open-map data source, easier to use. OpenStreetMap has historically been updated manually with volunteers, but Facebook, which uses the open-map data, added tools such as AI and the RapiD editor to add more details.
Mapping is a key battleground in tech as the industry tries to keep Google Maps from dominating. In addition, map data enables a host of other services.
Facebook uses OSM and its Map With AI service for Marketplace, Check-ins and Local.
Primers:
Other key points about the Map With AI update include:
Going forward, Facebook said it is hoping to enable OpenStreetMap to import more data sets from the likes of government agencies.