Apple Maps is reportedly set to introduce advertisements as soon as next year, based on a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
Just like Google Maps, Apple plans to let restaurants and other businesses with physical stores pay to promote their locations within search results. This decision—following the company’s existing ads in the App Store—is part of a larger push to expand advertising across the iOS platform.
While this might alienate some users, Apple is counting on a superior experience. It aims to stand out with a cleaner interface and the use of AI to offer highly relevant search results.
The main question, as Gurman points out, is whether Apple’s loyal customers will protest as their devices and apps increasingly become digital billboards for both paid services and commercial promotions.
