Apple is reportedly preparing to introduce advertisements within Apple Maps as early as next year – a move that could reshape how users discover restaurants, shops, and other local businesses through the platform.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who has previously predicted Apple’s push into ads within Maps, the company is now closer than ever to rolling out the feature. The upcoming model will allow businesses to pay for enhanced visibility, ensuring their locations appear more prominently in search results and map views.
Sources suggest Apple will use AI-driven relevance tools to ensure that the promoted listings align with user intent and maintain the platform’s emphasis on clean, intuitive design.
While Apple has long resisted aggressive advertising across its ecosystem, this initiative marks a significant step in the company’s broader effort to monetize its software and services. The move follows Apple’s gradual expansion into ad placements across the App Store, News, and Stocks apps.
However, analysts note that introducing ads into Maps comes with risk. Competing platforms like Google Maps already dominate user preference, and Apple will need to strike a balance between monetization and maintaining its hallmark user experience.
Gurman’s report stops short of naming which Apple service might be next to adopt ads, but it’s clear that Apple’s advertising ambitions are evolving – with Maps potentially leading the next phase of its revenue strategy.
