If you haven’t heard of ChatGPT, you’ve likely been under a rock (or have a rich personal life that doesn’t keep you glued to your screen—congrats!).
In case you’re not in the know, ChatGPT is an AI-operated chatbot that does everything from recommending which stocks to buy, to drafting email responses, and editing college admissions essays. The technology has been taking the internet by storm with over 100 million active users as of January. But, it’s not without its glitches.
Now, people are testing the tool in the travel industry. The folks over at CNBC asked ChatGPT to plan their next vacation and the results were intriguing. The chat tool was quick to reply and even personable in its responses, giving off the feeling that you’re chatting with a travel agent.
Chat GPT said it could:
- Recommend destinations, restaurants, and attractions
- Search for flights and hotels
- Provide weather forecasts
- Language translation
- Help with travel budgeting
- Give general travel advice like packing and safety tips.
What was the tool able to do successfully?
When tasked with booking a week-long beach trip in mid-March with no set budget, the chatbot was able to spit out multiple destinations along with weather stats and information on popular tourist attractions for each. It was even able to adjust its recommended destinations based on where you live.
Where were the hiccups?
It’s clear that the tool is scrubbing internet data to come up with its responses, but at times the reviews and recommendations weren’t quite right. For instance, when the chat was tasked with finding a treehouse in Bali, it pulled a destination in Canada. Or when it recommended the Sandat Glamping Tents it said that the location has over 400 excellent reviews when in reality it has far fewer—only 277.
Hotel costs were relatively accurate but the chat could not provide photos or help book a room. Similarly, Chat GPT can name airlines and connecting cities but cannot provide flight info or help with booking flights.
Is it valuable for travelers?
Right now, it seems the tool is still working out a lot of kinks. With something as personal as travel, it doesn’t seem to be the best option for planning a seamless trip. Travel agents can rest easy that the chatbots won’t replace them any time soon.
The bot might be helpful to travelers just beginning their search or having trouble deciding on a destination, but it doesn’t do much more than Googling something as vague as “best places for a March vacation” or “things to do in Bali.”
The tool can’t get as granular or provide reliable and well-researched information. For now, we recommend researching destinations on your own, subscribing to travel newsletters, and signing up for flight deals as your best bet for planning your perfect trip.
by travelers, for travelers.
