AI and TikTok: Planning a vacation has never been easier. But are algorithms really the better travel guide?
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00:00Are you planning a vacation?
00:02With AI, Instagram and TikTok, it has never been easier to discover new places.
00:07And now, Google is joining in with AI for Maps.
00:11But are these algorithms really the better travel guides?
00:15Google recently announced updates to Maps,
00:18allowing you to ask for place and activity ideas just like with a chatbot.
00:23For example, if a friend visits, you can ask Maps about nearby nighttime hangouts.
00:28And this is just one way you can use AI for trip planning.
00:34According to an American survey,
00:36one in five young people are already using AI for their travel plans.
00:41Apps designed to plan trips or general chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini
00:46could be your personal travel guide.
00:48And here are three ways they can help.
00:51First, finding the perfect destination.
00:54Chatbots process mountains of info that could take you hours to dig through.
00:59So if you're after something specific, like a warm beach with snorkeling spots,
01:04they can help fast.
01:05Just enter detailed prompts that include things like temperature,
01:09length of the trip or planned activities.
01:11Second, creating your itinerary.
01:14AI can help you create a travel route tailored to your location and length of stay.
01:19For city visits, try Google Maps Immersive View.
01:22It uses AI and computer vision to create 3D models of how a given place
01:28might look at a specific time up to four days in the future.
01:31But this feature isn't supported in every city yet.
01:35Third, booking flights and hotels.
01:37Many travel sites now have chatbots to simplify the booking process.
01:42Google's Gemini chatbot also offers a solution.
01:45By being integrated with Google Flights and Hotels,
01:48it can compare times and prices for you.
01:51Pretty convenient, but there's something even more useful for Gen Z
01:55when it comes to planning a trip.
01:57Using Insta and TikTok as travel guides.
02:01TikTok and Instagram make it easy to find hidden gems,
02:05like cool restaurants and scenic views.
02:08Aside from travel ads, the platforms can actually give you a real glimpse into places.
02:13Here's how to do it.
02:14Use the geolocation to see posts from where you want to go.
02:18You can also search for hashtags of the country or city you want to visit
02:22to get some inspiration for cool spots.
02:25If you're not sure where to go yet, try general hashtags like
02:29hashtag travel or hashtag travel photography.
02:32They might give you an idea.
02:34Alright, your trip is booked, your route is planned.
02:36So what could go wrong?
02:39Well, this kind of travel planning has its downsides.
02:43What you see online might not be what you'll get.
02:46Images shared by influencers are designed to have a glossy appeal.
02:50Reality might be somewhat disappointing.
02:53And you definitely need to prepare for crowds.
02:56AI will spit out the most searched places, as will social media algorithms.
03:00If more users follow these suggestions and replicate the posts,
03:04overtourism might only get worse.
03:06That means a popular place will become overcrowded by tourists
03:10and that often results in conflicts with locals.
03:13Take Barcelona for instance.
03:15Locals protested against overwhelming tourist crowds last summer.
03:19And there's more to keep in mind.
03:21Double-check info from chatbots.
03:23They might get things wrong or be outdated.
03:25Also look for recent reviews of the places you want to go.
03:28The quality might have changed over the years.
03:31Even though it is easy, this kind of travel planning might not be for everyone.
03:35If you like your information the old-school way,
03:38you might still prefer a paperback travel guide.
03:41Just make sure it's not written by AI.
03:43So how do you plan your trips?
03:45Let us know in the comments.