AI in Travel

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the dominant topic of the future in travel, and we’re keeping a close eye on it at Skift.

Breakthrough generative AI technology was released publicly by OpenAI last November, and a number of big-name travel companies have already responded. Expedia, Kayak, and more — including multiple startups — have started releasing experimental technologies that could lead to transformations in the way users discover, plan, and book travel.

Skift's own Ask Skift AI deep search tool gives readers extensive insight into the business of travel by training artificial intelligence on the complete archives of Skift, Skift Research, Airline Weekly, Skift Meetings, Daily Lodging Report, and Skift Live events.

Online Travel

Can Kayak.ai Solve Travel’s 'Complex Problems'? Here’s How it Works

Kayak's new AI trip planning experience — the latest of several experiments — is easy to use and seems to work without too many glitches. Now the trick is getting people to use it.

Justin Dawes | 1 month ago

An iPhone screen with multiple artificial intelligence apps.

Podcasts

The AI Assistant Race, Southwest's New Promise and Booking.com Revelations

For today's pod we look at Southwest's break with the past, the AI travel assistant race, and a brief history of Booking.com.

Rashaad Jorden | 1 month ago

Skift Meetings launch

“Think of AI as an Idea Generator”: One Planner Shares Her Prompts

Think of AI as a starting point for sparking creativity — not as the final word — says this event strategist.

Barbara Scofidio | 1 month ago

Hotels

Inside Accor’s Tech Strategy: Loyalty, AI, and Agility at Scale

Accor is proving that digital transformation isn’t just about technology — it’s a shift in mindset, driven by agility, culture, and customer obsession. Under Alix Boulnois’ leadership, the company is future-proofing hospitality at every touchpoint.

Accor Group + Skift | 1 month ago

Google’s New Smart Glasses. For Travelers: Live Translation, Navigation

Google's smart glasses will be a direct competitor to the Ray-Ban Meta glasses, both attempts at building hardware especially for the latest AI.

Justin Dawes | 1 month ago

A screenshot of Google’s new AI tool being used to plan an outing.

Podcasts

Google's New AI Mode, Congress’ Favorite Travel Stocks, and Hotels.com's AI Planner

For today’s pod we look at some really big AI announcements by Google and a smaller one by Hotels.com. We also look at the stocks members of the U.S. congress are trading.

Rashaad Jorden | 1 month ago

Travel Technology

Google’s New 'AI Mode' for Search: The Impact on Trip Planning

This was Google's biggest group of AI announcements yet. With all the of the travel-related demos, the industry is clearly top-of-mind during development.

Justin Dawes | 1 month ago

Online Travel

Hotels.com Has a New Chatbot Trip Planner. Here's How it Works

The Hotels.com app is integrated with the chatbot in a simplistic way that makes it easy to use, but the errors don't help to set it apart.

Justin Dawes | 1 month ago

Trip.com mobile app icon is seen on an iPhone

Online Travel

Trip.com Group Rides AI, Inbound Boom, and Older Travelers to Strong Quarter

Trip.com’s inbound bookings soared 100% as China’s visa-free policies lured more tourists. With AI and senior travelers fueling growth, the company’s global comeback looks sharp and well-targeted.

Peden Doma Bhutia | 1 month ago

A person holding a smartphone with Palantir branding.

Travel Technology

Inside Palantir’s Opinionated Approach to Travel Tech – Skift Travel Podcast

Palantir's Breno Helfstein Moura has no shortage of thoughts about what travel brands really need, which he discussed in this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast.

Rashaad Jorden | 2 months ago

AI in Travel

Staying ahead of the next wave of change.