Google Maps just got a new insanely cool time-traveling AR feature

Google Maps is no longer just about getting from point A to point B.

The digital map tool has been steadily infusing augmented reality (AR) into its platform, transforming the way we explore and interact with our surroundings. Now, it has added a really cool time-traveling AR feature that lets you go back in time.

So, if you're a history fan or just want to see what iconic landmarks looked like in the past, you can, thanks to the infusion of Google Lens with historical data. For example, you can visualize the Eiffel Tower as it looked like in the 1900s, complete with interactive information cards that delve deeper into the monument's history.

If you live in or are visiting Paris this summer, you can go to the Eiffel Tower, point your device at the landmark and go to the AR feature to go back in time. You can also explore these historical sites from anywhere in the world using Street View.

The feature is coming to more iconic locations, allowing users to virtually visit places like Notre Dame Cathedral before its 1789 restoration, the Bastille Saint-Antoine before the French Revolution, and the Palais des Tuileries in its former glory.

While the AR experience is currently limited to Paris, France, we can expect to see this feature expanded to other iconic landmarks around the world in the future.