I don’t know about you, but I tend to think about my favorite tech tools as being split into two separate saucepans: the “classic” apps we’ve known and relied on for ages and then the newer “AI” apps that have shown up over the past several months to serve some super-specific purpose.
More and more, though, I’m realizing that the most effective apps are the ones that seamlessly blend those two concepts and create a whole new recipe with the best of both worlds.
That’s precisely what the tool I’ve got for you today manages to do. It’s a brand new app released just moments ago that’s basically Google Maps combined with ChatGPT, Perplexity, Wikipedia, and more.
And goodness gracious, will it bring some fascinating new flavor into your life.
Be the first to find all sorts of little-known tech treasures with my free Cool Tools newsletter from The Intelligence. One useful new discovery in your inbox every Wednesday!
A modern mapping mashup
Let me back up for one quick second: A moment ago, I told you today’s tool is a brand new service. And it is—just released days ago and almost certainly something you haven’t yet seen.
But it’s also connected to a standout service we’ve discussed in these quarters before.
➜ The service is called PamPam, and we talked about it last May and then again in December, when I featured it as one of my favorite finds from 2024.
At the time, I described it as an AI map app that’s actually worth your while—and that’s still true today. But now, PamPam is even more useful, thanks to a massive upgrade that introduces a whole new ocean of actually-handy AI possibilities.
Specifically, PamPam’s gained some really slick integrations that bring data from ChatGPT, Perplexity, Wikipedia, and other smart sources into its interactive map-exploring experience.
So what does that actually look like in practice? Lemme show ya.
When you open up the new PamPam app, you’re prompted to describe what exactly you want to do or see. You can type out anything, in plain English and without any complicated formatting requirements.
By default, the service will pull info from ChatGPT and Wikipedia into its results. If you click the little pill area with the logos, though, you can also bring other info sources into the mix—including, so far, Perplexity and Foursquare.
For one example, I asked the service to suggest stuff to do and places to eat for a day in Pasadena with a family of four—including a seven-year-old and a nine-year-old. In a matter of seconds, it served up all sorts of thoughtful and specific suggestions, with info available in a sidebar and locations visible in a large interactive map.
Clicking on any item in the map or the sidebar pulls up more detailed info from Wikipedia, along with more suggestions for subsequent questions from ChatGPT and any other activated sources.
Everything happens right then and there, in that same single screen and without any external windows or sign-ins. It’s about as polished and pleasant of an experience as you could ask for, with all sorts of helpful touches pulled from the different sources and presented in a sensible-seeming, streamlined setup.
⌚ PamPam does require you to sign in with a Google account in order to use the service, but it takes all of seven seconds to do—and you’ll be off to the races and exploring your results in another few seconds from there.
The possibilities are practically endless, and best of all? It doesn’t even cost a dime to try.
- PamPam works entirely on the web in any browser, on any device.
- It’s completely free to use for these purposes, with evolving limits for the external sources. The site offers an optional “Pro” plan that raises those limits and unlocks extra features related to some of its other functions. (The company has a variety of corporate plans, too, which seem to be where the bulk of its money is made.)
- PamPam doesn’t require any personal info beyond your initial Google sign-in, and its privacy policy doesn’t include anything unusual about how it handles the limited amount of data involved.
If you love these types of tools as much as I do, check out my free Cool Tools newsletter. I’ll introduce you to an incredible audio app that’ll tune up your days in delightful ways—then send you another new off-the-beaten-path gem every Wednesday!
