How Mapbox is Quietly Powering the AI Map Revolution with Kieran McCann

AI can answer almost anything, except “where.” That gap is huge, and  Kieran McCann from Mapbox is working to close it.

In this episode of The Spatial Stack, Matt sits down with Kieran, who’s spent six years helping Mapbox quietly power some of the most widely used maps and location services in the world. From his early days doing grunt map edits at Apple Maps to shaping Mapbox’s next big bet: AI-native mapping. Kieran shares what it takes to bring true spatial understanding into artificial intelligence.

You’ll hear how Mapbox is experimenting with ways for AI to finally reason about place and direction, what’s still missing for models to “get” geography, and how anyone, even those just starting out, can build powerful AI + geospatial tools today. Kieran also breaks down how showing prototypes can change your career trajectory and why now is the perfect time to jump into this space.

If you’re curious about where mapping and AI collide and what that means for your work, your career, and the apps we all use every day, this conversation is a must-listen.

🚀 Ready to move beyond desktop GIS?
Step into the Spatial Lab: a global community for ambitious geospatial professionals who want to break out of outdated workflows and join the top 5% of the field.
👉 Join Spatial Lab: https://forrest.nyc/spatial-lab/

🎓 Want structured, career-changing learning?

🚀 Modern GIS Accelerator: https://forrest.nyc/accelerator/
 — master Python, Spatial SQL & cloud workflows in 2 weeks

🧭 Career Compass: https://forrest.nyc/career-compass/
 — fast, practical steps to land the GIS role you want

🪄 AI Copilot for GIS: https://forrest.nyc/ai-copilot-for-gis/
 — learn to integrate AI into your geospatial workflows & boost your productivity

📰 Weekly modern GIS insights: https://forrest.nyc

⚡️ Spots for the next live cohort and mentorship cycle are closing soon,  join now to lock in your place and momentum.

CONNECT WITH ME
📸 Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/matt_forrest/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mbforr/
📧 Newsletter: https://forrest.nyc
🌐 Website: https://forrest.nyc