More and more data has to become available to provide these kinds of great offerings. These kinds of information will come from people around local areas contributing.
It allows users to do things without having to type anything.
Users even five years ago were still just amazed you can get driving directions from point A to point B. They were OK if every once in a while, it took you down the wrong street or didn't know about a new housing development.
This is where it's more art than science.