Can you use ChatGPT as a travel agent? Here’s what I learned about AI vacation planning.
artificial intelligence computer program from OpenAI, responded.
I was using the term “travel agent” loosely.
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That was the first of several roadblocks I hit during an experiment to see whether I could use ChatGPT as a travel agent for a theoretical vacation, compared with a human counterpart. Here’s what I learned:
third-party booking websites.
OpenAI said last month it would roll out access to various plug-ins to “study their real-world use, impact, and safety and alignment challenges,” including from third-party booking sites Expedia and Kayak.
Expedia Group tweeted a video that shows a user searching for flights via ChatGPT and the plug-in, which provides options before sharing a link to book on Expedia, among other features, for instance.
“While we will initially prioritize a small number of developers and ChatGPT Plus users, we plan to roll out larger-scale access over time,” OpenAI said in a blog post (I was using the free version of the program).
When I asked which airline I should choose, ChatGPT listed airlines that fly nonstop between Nashville and New York.
In what felt like a kind of consolation, ChatGPT also volunteered tips. “When choosing an airline, you may want to consider factors such as ticket price, departure and arrival times, airline rewards programs, and any additional fees or charges,” the program said. “You may also want to read reviews from other travelers to get an idea of their experiences with each airline.”
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He selected an early flight in and a late flight out to “maximize” my time there, and nonstop service to avoid disruptions.
“If the price is close, and I have a nonstop flight, against changing planes with today’s situation in flights, I always go for the nonstop,” Millstone said.
Many of Millstone’s recommendations were also rooted in personal experiences, such as grabbing a corned beef or pastrami sandwich from a local deli in Manhattan – he gets half and half when he goes.
His other suggestions included a hop-on, hop-off bus tour, which he and his wife have used, and a carriage ride through Central Park. The conversation flowed more naturally than with the AI program (believe it or not), and he offered a streamlined way to make bookings as well as passed on a breadth of firsthand New York knowledge that ChatGPT could not have had.
Can I use ChatGPT as a travel agent?
That depends.
If I had been simply looking for advice on what to do and suggested ways to do it, ChatGPT served me well as a kind of consultant while I considered my options. But based on my experience with the current iteration of the free program, a flesh-and-blood advisor adviser can offer a more full-service experience with a travel agent who will not only make recommendations but also book my travel.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.