A Conversation with the City
2GIS has taken an important step forward: its AI assistant can now answer everyday questions about public transportation, from when the next bus will arrive to fares and transfer options.
Users can now ask questions in natural language, such as “When is the next bus to the train station?”, “What's the fastest way to get to the airport without transferring?” or “How much does a trip with a transfer cost?” The service provides a ready-to-use answer. To get started, users simply select a transit stop or route on the map and open the “Questions” tab. The feature is available on the web and in the mobile apps for Android and iOS.
The answers draw on 2GIS mapping and directory data, information from transit operators and municipal transportation agencies, and, where technically available, real-time vehicle location data. This marks a significant shift in the service: rather than offering a collection of separate tools, 2GIS is becoming an intelligent assistant that brings schedules, fares and route options together. The approach could be especially useful for tourists, people living in newly developed neighborhoods, older adults and anyone who finds it difficult to navigate the public transit network.
Where Is the Service Headed?
The new feature has considerable potential in the Russian market. 2GIS has a monthly audience of 83.3 million unique devices and covers approximately 1,400 cities. In other words, the platform already has a substantial user base, allowing it to roll out new AI capabilities without requiring people to download a separate app. Over time, the assistant could evolve into an all-purpose trip planner that takes passenger preferences into account, recommends the most affordable options, warns of delays and combines route planning with fare payment.
Another promising area is multimodal trip planning, bringing together subways, buses, trams, commuter trains, bicycles and walking segments. These trips can be particularly difficult to plan independently in large metropolitan areas, making a conversational interface especially valuable.
The technology also has export potential, particularly in Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) markets. 2GIS already operates in Kazakhstan, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia and Georgia. Its existing presence in these countries could provide the infrastructure needed to roll out AI features there.
From Chatbots to AI
Russia's smart transit services began evolving long before generative AI emerged. In February 2022, Alexandra, the Moscow Metro chatbot, had already handled more than one million passenger inquiries. It provided information about the metro, the Moscow Central Circle (MCC) and the Moscow Central Diameters (MCD), helped passengers with payments and assisted with requests for travel assistance.
The following years laid the technological groundwork. In 2023, 2GIS updated its route-planning interface, making it easier for users to compare travel options. In 2024, the company significantly improved the accuracy of its transit tracking. By 2025, the service had begun integrating navigation with fare payment, launching a pilot in Kostroma, and displaying trip costs in more than 100 cities. In December of that year, major Russian mapping services began rolling out conversational AI at the same time: Yandex Maps launched a chat feature powered by Alice AI, while 2GIS added an assistant to business listings.
Similar developments are taking place globally. In March 2026, Google introduced Ask Maps, powered by Gemini, a feature that helps users plan trips through natural-language conversations. But while Google focuses on finding places and leisure activities, 2GIS is concentrating on public transportation, answering practical, time-sensitive questions about routes, schedules and fares.
The Future Is Conversational
The most important achievement of the 2GIS update is a new way for passengers to interact with the service. It is no longer just a map but an assistant that understands everyday language and saves people time when planning trips. The development reflects a broader trend: major digital platforms are integrating generative AI into products used by millions, making complex tasks easier to handle.
Over the next few years, the service is expected to gain more capabilities, including personalized recommendations, route comparisons based on different criteria, fare-payment integration, support for complex multimodal trips and real-time alerts about transit changes. Further down the road, a unified digital assistant could guide users through the entire journey, from choosing a route to reaching their destination.
