It should easily be able to understand a user's personality well enough to know how to manipulate them. E.g., 4 suggestions that user avoids directing user to the remaining 5th location that wasn't suggested.

How do you find those 5 locations? You open Google Maps and search for them. Too bad the app already selects 4 places to show you and hide the 5th.

So often I look for a business but Google Maps won't show it because it has no reviews. An AI assistant wouldn't change that, as long as it's still interactively programmable (i.e. give me 5 options, I'll pick 3)

Let’s not mince words.

If my device is “suggesting” a hotel or restaurant, or wherever, that’s advertising.

Advertising is largely self-praise.

And self praise is no recommendation.

Or perhaps I misunderstood, and you were suggesting ignoring the recommendations of one’s travel companions.

In my area lots of smaller accommodations don't show up on Google Maps already because they're not sold via OTA and Google can't earn their share.

1. Open Google Maps

2. Search "hotel"

3. Pick the first one

4. See "sponsored" just before the first link to a third party

If my phone ever starts not clearly separating "editorial content" and advertisements, it won't remain my phone for long.

There’s no “if” to it. LLM-driven features will be monetized. Investors/shareholders will insist.

You do realize that Google Maps prioritizes what's displayed on the map based on corporate relationships & money exchanged, right?