What are the uses of AI for travel?

Image credit: Bing Copilot

Artificial intelligence continues to change the way people do things, and travel is no exception.

Who's using AI for travel?

The travel industry has been very busy incorporating AI into their business models. And a recent survey reveals that as many as seven in ten Americans are considering using AI tools for their trips.

Here’s the latest on the AI travel revolution.

There's a lot of buzz (and beeping, and blooping) about what AI can do for travelers across the globe.

Tools, Apps & Platforms

The number of AI resources for planning your next trip is huge. Popular ones include WonderPlan, Vacay, GuideGeek, and good ol' ChatGPT.

Never considered the uses of AI for travel? Here's what's happening with AI:

Travelers are:

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• Seeking and testing out a growing number of new tools

• Sharing ideas on social media and the AI apps themselves

The travel industry is:

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• Boosting ad campaigns

• Crafting just-in-time deals

• Forecasting travel demand

So, you’ve done enough inspirational browsing and sharing and are ready to form a travel plan.

Both travelers and travel companies are looking for reliable, affordable, and efficient travel solutions. If you are looking for apps and tools to help plan your travels, there’s an AI tool for that.

Travelers can use AI to:

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• Customize their travel apps

• Look for easy-to-use tools

• Collaborate and sharing itineraries with other travelers

• Personalize trips

• Look for unique app add-ons

The travel industry uses AI to: 👨🏾‍💼 🏢

• Give loyalty incentives for frequent travelers

• Offer planning customization and personalization options

• Empower virtual travel agents to help with traveler requests

The trip you’ve planned is perfect, and all the AI apps you’ve used couldn’t have done a better job.

But then you miss a bus and wind up missing a guided tour of a historic city center. 😔 You feel you’re not really getting the full picture of this destination without the tour guide...

So you open a travel app on your phone and — behold — they offer an AI-powered virtual assistant that gives audio tours.

If you find yourself in need in the midst of your travels, there’s an AI tool for that.

Travelers can use AI to:

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• Use interactive local maps during their getaways, such as with WonderPlan

• Track costs and budgeting as they go, which Explorerg does

• Use AI messaging features for on-the-spot recommendations using apps like GuideGeek

The travel industry uses AI to:

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• Test out virtual travel assistants and guides, which TripAdvisor just successfully piloted

• Incorporate voice-commanded assistants in hotel rooms

• Personalize your sleep with a "smart bed"

As in other areas of life, AI is not a perfect solution for modern travel needs.

AI continues to hallucinate.

In the world of artificial intelligence, a hallucination happens when AI creates information that is not accurate. Many apps and tools are working on reducing hallucinations, but you should still take direction from these apps and tools cautiously.

AI may struggle with personalizing your trip.

It would be nice to have a travel buddy that knows you inside and out. But some bloggers feel that, for now, AI travel tools seem to lack that personal touch. Others recommend you mix and match different tools to achieve your dream trip.

AI tools can put your personal data at risk.

Many travelers also have serious concerns about revealing personal information about themselves or their trips. When in doubt, keep your personal information personal!

The excitement surrounding AI's use in travel is warranted, and there are lots of tools out there that help you perfect a complicated itinerary and still others that enhance your travels.

"This adventure is brought to you by my wave algorithm, Judy!"

We live in interesting times. It's not a question of whether AI can help you in your travels, but how.