The pop-up ad was first noticed geographically near Atlantic City.
Google confirmed that it is not bringing pop-up ads to Maps. The user spotted "Promoted Pins," which have existed for some time. These pins do not pop up on their own and disappear automatically after a short time. They let users see relevant ads for businesses like gas stations, restaurants, and stores along their route without causing driver distraction.
Promoted Pins in Google Maps are a type of advertisement that allows businesses to appear at the top of the search results for a specific keyword or location4. They are marked with a red square pin and include the business name, address, phone number, and website. Promoted Pins help businesses increase brand awareness and drive traffic to their website or store.