Travel planning can be a daunting task, especially for those who are not familiar with the destination they are planning to visit. With the advent of ChatGPT, an AI-powered natural language processing tool, the task of planning a trip has become much easier. As an SEO expert with a background in travel planning, I decided to put ChatGPT to the test and see how well it works for planning trips to popular destinations like Italy, France, Japan, and others.
Before we dive into the results, let's talk a little about Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Machine learning is a process of teaching machines to understand patterns by feeding them a lot of data. In the case of ChatGPT, it was trained with over 45 terabytes of text data, which is roughly nine quadrillion words. To get this massive dataset, OpenAI used the internet to gather data on itineraries for various locations.
However, it's important to note that "garbage in, garbage out" applies to AI as well. If the machine is trained with bad data, it will produce bad results. While ChatGPT has been trained with a lot of data, it's still important to validate the results carefully.
When it comes to travel planning, travel advisors can be a great resource for travelers. In fact, the role of travel advisors has evolved significantly over the years. In the past, travel advisors were primarily focused on selling airfare, but with the advent of online travel booking sites, the industry has shifted towards providing guidance and advice to travelers. As a result, the term "travel agent" was rebranded to "travel advisor" to better reflect the changing nature of the industry.
So, how well does ChatGPT perform when it comes to travel planning? The results are mixed. While many of the itineraries generated by ChatGPT can work, they still need to be thoroughly examined. For example, some of the cities listed in the itineraries were nowhere near the country I was creating the itinerary for. Additionally, travel between locations needs to be carefully considered, and some itineraries created by ChatGPT had no practical or convenient way to get between two locations.
Another important consideration when using ChatGPT for travel planning is that the system was trained with data up to the year 2020. This means that it may not be aware of travel restrictions or difficulties that remain post-pandemic or world events that may have affected travel to certain destinations. This is where the expertise of travel advisors becomes essential. We stay updated on what's going on throughout the world that affects travel and have a deep understanding of which companies are still in business and providing good service.
While ChatGPT can be a helpful tool for DIY travel planning, it's important to take the final itinerary to a Travel Advisor to ensure that it's feasible and works for the traveler's needs. Moreover, working with a travel advisor doesn't necessarily cost more than booking a trip yourself. Thanks to our close relationships with suppliers and industry knowledge, we can often save travelers money.
In conclusion, ChatGPT can be a useful tool for travel planning, but it's important to validate the results carefully and work with a Travel Advisor to ensure that the itinerary works and meets the traveler's needs. At The Adept Traveler, we pride ourselves on our industry knowledge and expertise and are always happy to help travelers plan their next adventure. So, whether you're planning a trip to Italy, France, Japan, or anywhere else in the world, we've got you covered.
