Yandex expands AI-powered search and maps

Combining the classic search engine with artificial intelligence technology, Yazeka, unlike ChatGPT and DeepSeek applications, was designed to focus on local needs, better understand Turkish content and provide the most contextually accurate results to the user.

Yazeka, thanks to its natural language processing algorithms, can go beyond keyword searches and create meaningful and comprehensive answers to user questions. Integrated into Yandex Maps, the application enriches search results by analyzing information on maps such as business, venue reviews and directions.

Yandex Turkey aims to be a "reliable and long-term partner" with the services it offers specifically for the Turkish market, and by adding more than 1 million businesses and organizations to the platform with the new updates it brings to its map application, it aims to make the search experience more comprehensive and to make local businesses "more visible and accessible."

"Yandex Maps and Navi are an integral part of our ecosystem"

Speaking about the scope of the new updates and the company's future plans, Yandex Türkiye General Manager Alexander Popovskiy evaluated the place of Yandex Maps service in the Turkish market and its contributions to local businesses.

Popovskiy said that the updates to Yandex's Maps and Navi, its directions service, are the most comprehensive renewals since the launch of these services.

Emphasizing that Maps and Navi services play a critical role in the Yandex Turkey ecosystem, Popovskiy said, "Ride-hailing, food delivery and many of our services are largely based on Maps. Approximately 10 percent of Yandex Search queries are related to geographic objects. For this reason, we see Maps as an integral part of our ecosystem and develop it by giving it the importance it deserves."

Popovskiy emphasized that the updates integrate the experience of different digital services into Yandex Maps, and stated that these innovations make routes more accessible and efficient for Turkish users with the support of artificial intelligence.

Sharing details about the update, Popovskiy continued as follows:

"The latest updates to Yandex Maps have significantly increased our reach in major cities in Turkey. We have added more than 1,250,000 businesses to the app to enhance local search capabilities in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Gaziantep, Adana and other cities. We plan to add additional businesses to Maps in cities such as Bursa, Kocaeli, Konya, Sakarya and Tekirdağ in the coming months."

Popovskiy stated that more than 30 special city guides have been prepared for big cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya and Izmir in order to make it easier to explore the cities, and added, "These guides offer detailed information on a wide range of topics from iconic landmarks to undiscovered beauties and can be accessed from the 'Guides' section in the Yandex Maps application."

Referring to the work done to improve navigation accuracy in Yandex Maps, Popovskiy said, "We have significantly increased navigation accuracy by updating more than 44 thousand kilometers of roads in Istanbul with new lanes, traffic lights and road signs. These additions provide a smoother travel experience for drivers and pedestrians, ensuring trouble-free navigation in Turkey's dynamic urban areas."

"Integration with Yandex Search powered by Yazeka has been achieved"

Popovskiy stated that with the new updates, the recently launched search engine Yandex Yazeka and Maps have been made complementary to each other, and said, "Yandex Maps and Yandex Search powered by Yazeka reinforce each other thanks to their deep integration. This symbolizes a significant transition from the traditional web search model to a fully integrated and AI-powered digital ecosystem."

Providing information about the AI-powered summaries added to Maps, Popovskiy said, "Yandex Maps integrates the AI-powered summaries created by Yazeka in Turkish to more than 250 thousand locations. This feature encourages users to explore the important points of the country by providing summary information of must-see attractions, from the Galata Tower in Istanbul to the ancient city of Sardis near Izmir."

Popovskiy noted that the renewed Maps application will also contribute greatly to providing visibility to businesses, and continued as follows:

“Yandex Maps offers a valuable opportunity for local businesses and entrepreneurs to list their companies on the platform. This not only provides users with basic information but also helps Turkish companies attract more customers by increasing their visibility. Business owners can update their profiles with additional details and photos at any time, respond to customer feedback, and schedule appointments.”

Noting that the number of small and medium-sized businesses added to Yandex Maps has increased by 25 percent in the last year, Popovskiy said, "We are constantly improving our versatile toolset to support businesses of all sizes with our advertising solutions under the Yandex Ads brand and up-to-date geographic information solutions offered through the Yandex Maps API."

"We will present new updates in the navigation area"

Popovskiy, who made evaluations about Yandex Turkey's future plans, concluded his words as follows:

"With the latest updates to our navigation services, Yandex Türkiye reaffirms its commitment to unlocking the country's digital potential with advanced technology. We will continue to innovate and deliver additional updates in the navigation area and beyond in the coming months."