Google has confirmed that it is slowly removing the Q&A feature from Google Maps. Instead, users will now see a new AI-powered Ask button on a Google Business Profile, designed to give faster and more relevant answers.
To give some background, Google launched the Q&A feature in Google Maps back in 2017. Over time, however, Google started reducing its visibility. Earlier this year, the feature was removed from Maps and Local results in several regions. Google also deprecated the Q&A API, which clearly signaled a bigger change was coming.
At the same time, Google began rolling out the new Ask on Google Maps button, which uses AI to answer user questions instantly.
Recently, Dan Boguslavsky, a Product Specialist at Google, confirmed this update in the Google Business Profile Help Forum. He explained that Google received feedback that Q&A had become difficult for users. With too many old questions, people struggled to find clear and timely answers.
What is changing now?
Here is what Google shared about the new system:
First, instead of scrolling through long lists of old questions or waiting for replies, users can ask a question directly in Google Maps and get an instant AI-generated answer. These answers are based on business-provided information and relevant customer reviews.
Next, business owners no longer need to reply to dozens of similar or outdated questions. Instead, they can answer grouped or aggregated questions, which saves time and effort.
Finally, the answers you provide will help Google respond to similar questions from other users in the future, making the system smarter over time.
Dan also clarified an important point. Business owners can still access and answer existing questions inside the Q&A section of their Google Business Profile dashboard. These answers will continue to help Google understand real-world business details and may still appear in Maps indirectly. However, the Q&A section is no longer visible on the public front end.
In simple terms, Q&A still exists in the backend for businesses, but users now interact mainly through the AI-powered Ask button.
For more discussion and real-world observations, you can also check this Local Search Forum thread.
Overall, this update shows Google moving toward faster, AI-driven answers while reducing clutter from outdated questions. For businesses, this means focusing more on accurate profile details and clear responses that AI can reuse across customer searches.
