Claudia Byatt
International Travel

Online travel giant uses AI chatbot as travel adviser

Online travel giant Expedia has collaborated with the controversial artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT in place of a travel adviser.

Those planning a trip will be able to chat to the bot through the Expedia app.

Although it won’t book flights or accommodation like a person can, it can be helpful in answering various travel-related questions. 

 These questions include information on things such as weather inquiries, public transport advice, the cheapest time to travel and what you should pack.

It is advanced software and can provide detailed options and explanations for holidaymakers.

To give an example, news.com.au asked “what to pack to visit Auckland, New Zealand” and the chatbot suggested eight things to pack and why, even advising comfortable shoes for exploring as “Auckland is a walkable city”. 

“Remember to pack light and only bring what you need to avoid excess baggage fees and make your trip more comfortable,” the bot said.

When asked how to best see the Great Barrier Reef, ChatGPT provided four options to suit different preferences, for example, if you’re happy to get wet and what your budget might look like.

“It’s important to choose a reputable tour operator that follows sustainable tourism practices to help protect the reef,” it continued.

OpenAI launched ChatGPT in December 2022 and it has received a lot of praise as well as serious criticism. The criticisms are mainly concerns about safety and accuracy. 

Image credits: Getty/Twitter

Tags:
Artificial intelligence, ChatGPT, Travel agent