Six Flags said Tuesday that it plans to release generative AI tools in partnership with Google Cloud.
25.08.2023 - 13:24 / skift.com / Justin Dawes
When OpenAI released ChatGPT last November, there were a few companies that released tools right away or even shared plans to do so.
Then, there were some more.
Now, there are so many companies releasing tools and talking about plans that it’s becoming hard to keep up.
In the early days, a simple experimental integration of ChatGPT with a mapping tool was enough to spark interest to publish a news article. It’s only been about six months, and the landscape has changed drastically. Now, not every new tool gets its own story – there’s not enough time in the day.
Multiple large publicly traded travel companies — Airbnb, Uber, and more — have shared how they believe generative AI will change the way their businesses operate externally and internally. Another of them, vacation rental listing platform HomeToGo, is planning to release an AI tool soon meant to help users book accommodation based on specific preferences.
As far as booking tools go, most companies have a similar goal in mind: a virtual travel agent that can make recommendations and complete bookings based on highly personalized preferences that the customer provides.
The question that remains is how the many small companies — with limited data and resources — will be able to compete with the large companies that have unfathomable swaths of data and billions of dollars in revenue. Kudos to the ones who jumped on ideas right away because sometimes being first is important. But there’s no way around it — like social media platforms or past travel apps, few will succeed, and many will fail.
Skift has already covered multiple AI-powered booking tools in the works: Tripnotes, GuideGeek and Roam Around, Priceline, eDreams Odigeo, multiple online travel agency activities, and more.
Here a just few more that have been released or announced recently:
There are surely more to come. And they’re continuing to get better and better.
The platforms that succeed will likely need to solve a unique problem or create a recognizable brand. Not every company can “revolutionize” the way travel planning and booking has been done, as many claim they’re in the process of doing. The experts agree that it will change — but exactly who will be behind it is yet to be seen.
Six Flags said Tuesday that it plans to release generative AI tools in partnership with Google Cloud.
Good morning from Skift. It’s Thursday, November 3. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.
A U.S. hotel tech company with equity backing has acquired a booking engine based in Ireland.
Three startups working in travel tech announced nearly $17 million in funding this week.
Before the pandemic, the tech startup ResortPass had partnered with a little more than 100 hotels, offering a software platform that can book guests for day use of their amenities.
Much of the travel industry is continuing to recover after the pandemic and despite growing anxieties about the economy, with some metrics better than ever last year.
During her Christmas holiday, a software developer created a tool to generate and map travel itineraries using generative artificial intelligence (AI).
In an effort to combat the hold that online travel agencies have on the hotel market, Trivago is focusing on building a capability for direct access between hotels and travelers.
Microsoft took over tech headlines last week when it said that its search engine, Bing, is being relaunched in partnership with generative artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT.
The Agrarian Hotel, a 50-room hotel on the central coast of California, late last year added a feature that allows guests to tip housekeepers and other staff digitally.
A task force at Booking.com is dedicated to exploring how generative AI could be integrated into the platform, but just to be clear — the company is not rushing into anything.
Four travel tech startups raised $29 million in venture capital this week.