Where should I go on vacation this summer?
The question is quite simple, but the possibilities are endless.
“Feeling adventurous or would you rather relax on the beach with a drink in hand?” Layla responds to narrow the list.
Relaxing on the beach sounds good.
“Alright, for that laid-back beach vibe, how about Santorini with its iconic sunsets or Ao Nang for some Thai beach bliss? Choose your paradise! she suggested.
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Except she’s not really a “she.” Layla is an AI travel planner whose website launched this year, among a growing number of AI-powered travel tools.
Just over 50% of 1,400 people recently surveyed by Matador Network, a travel publisher and creator of AI travel assistant GuideGeek, said they are open to using AI on their summer trips. A previous survey by Matador Network found that 64% of the 1,200 travelers surveyed had already used or planned to use AI to plan trips.
Here’s what travelers should know about AI-powered travel planning.
How common is AI today?
Many people associate AI with large language models like ChatGPT, which can recognize and generate text, but this is just one type of AI.
“AI is generally everywhere,” said Yoon Kim, assistant professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at MIT. “For example, when you search for something – let’s say you search for something on TripAdvisor, Hotels.com – there is probably an AI-based system that gives you a list of matches based on your query.”
“Because many (online travel agencies) have already integrated different types of Gen AI into their platforms… people can use them without their knowledge,” echoed Matt Soderberg, director, US airlines leader at Deloitte Consulting, which named AI as a key theme in changing travel in its Future of Travel and Tourism report, released in early April.
Kayak and Expedia offer AI travel tools. Google has been using AI for search for years. These familiar “People also ask” questions are powered by AI. Google Flights uses machine learning, a type of AI. AI also powers Google Maps’ Immersive View, which gives users a navigable bird’s-eye view of 13 cities and more than 500 global landmarks that users can zoom into like a video game, with weather and crowd forecasts for different moments in the world. day.
Earlier this year, Google introduced generative AI for multi-search queries made with Google Lens. This allows users to take a photo of something and match it with text questions like “What kind of flower is that?” or “Who painted this and why?” to get AI-generated answers based on web data and links to additional sources.
How do I plan a trip with AI?
Planning trips with AI is typically free, but travelers may need to create platform-specific accounts to access enhanced features or ask more than a few initial questions.
Google account holders can get AI generative results on searches in the text-only search bar if they opt in to the Search Generative Experience, which is part of Google’s experimental Search Labs. Joining SGE allows them to ask questions like “Plan a 2-day solo trip to Grand Teton National Park” and not only get a suggested itinerary, but also related photos, reviews, and links to other resources.
For the first day in Grand Teton, Google suggested a morning hike at Schwabacher Landing “to see the Grand Tetons reflected in the river,” an afternoon visit to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Elk Refuge, and dinner at a local Italian restaurant with photos of each destination, links to their websites, pins showing locations on Google Maps, suggestions for where to stay, space for follow-up questions, and links to related questions like “Is 2 days enough for Grand Teton National Park?”
Just above the sample itinerary, read a warning: “Generative AI is experimental” and below: “AI-generated travel ideas may include inaccurate or misleading information. Confirm information with sources you trust.”
For the same request, both ChatGPT and GuideGeek — which can be messaged on social media as one person — offered more suggestions for things to do, as well as reminders to check for trail closures, but no specific recommendations on where to eat or stay. no photos nor links to find more information about any of the destinations. Layla and Mindtrip, an AI-powered travel planner that launched publicly this week, also included links to various points of interest, hotel suggestions, and the ability to adjust and book different parts of the itinerary through third-party partnerships. Mindtrip allows multiple people in the same travel group to collaborate on itineraries.
Make Travel Easier:We tested ChatGPT itineraries in 5 US tourist spots
Can AI be trusted?
Asking an AI travel planner what the top 10 snacks were at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, among classics like Dole Whip and Corn Dog Nuggets, he suggested Mickey-shaped beignets. They would certainly be a top snack if they were sold in the park, like at Disneyland. However, Disney World guests should head to Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter to purchase sweet Mickey-shaped fried dough pillows.
“This phenomenon is known as hallucinations. These generative AI systems are prone to hallucinating texts that seem plausible but are actually factually incorrect,” explained MIT’s Kim. “I think this will be an inherent problem with systems that generate results probabilistically over large spaces.”
“If the LLM recommended closing a restaurant two years ago, you would immediately lose all trust,” said Mindtrip founder and CEO Andy Moss. That’s why they and Layla also rely on human intelligence to make recommendations.
Kim noted that there are ongoing efforts to mitigate hallucinations, but suggested double-checking AI-generated responses.
“We want to make sure this information is usable and actionable. Of course, it’s repeatable,” said Will Healy, senior vice president at Booz Allen Hamilton, the largest AI provider for the federal government. He leads the company’s recreation work, including Recreaton.gov, the government’s central travel planning site for public lands such as national parks.
What can AI be used for?
Currently, most Recreation.gov visitors use progressive search to discover and reserve things like campsites by checking boxes and reading information provided by the land manager. However, 25% of randomly selected users are receiving more personalized AI-powered options as part of an AI-powered beta test.
“What we’re testing right now are things where you can say, ‘Hey, I have three kids. This is our first time camping. We want to go somewhere that is fun. My children love the water. We want to try hiking, and my youngest son likes fishing, but he’s not very good at it,’” Healy said.
“If you were talking to someone who knew everything about every camp, what answer would they give you? This is what we think artificial intelligence can do,” she added. “And it’s not just the data that’s in the system, but it’s all the analytics and blogs and everything that’s out there in the public domain that you can bring different pieces together, bring together into a contextual response.”
If AI is able to understand a traveler’s intent, Healy said it could also suggest alternative destinations or experiences if something a traveler wants is booked or unavailable. He said it could also help make public lands more accessible to more people.
“If you have some kind of disability — maybe it’s vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, whatever — that level of confidence (outdoors) can decrease,” Healy said. “We want to provide you with the right information so you can leave with as much confidence as possible and have an experience that matches your needs.”
