Artificial Intelligence (AI) is everywhere these days—from smart assistants, cars and homes to investing, advertising, security and medicine—and it’s evolving rapidly.
The travel industry is not immune to the impact of AI. On the contrary, it is fertile ground for new applications and innovations. Travel management companies are increasing their investments in the technology in order to fine-tune the traveler experience and, in turn, achieve their business goals.
AI is already making business travel less stressful. It can make baggage tracking more seamless, facilitate hotel check-ins, and help minimize the pain of flight cancellations. Travel managers reap the benefits of AI-enabled and automated business-travel bookings in the form of fast access to the most cost-effective and rewarding options for their travel programs.
While the technology has a way to go—and as with any innovation, it has its challenges—AI has started to shape the way we travel and is helping to inform the next generation of travel management.
More: Tech Company Brings AI to Accor, Hyatt and Marriott
Here are four ways AI facilitates smarter travel.
1. Flight Delay Prediction
Flight delays have long been the bane of not only weary travelers, but the airline industry, as well. But companies such as Google have been working on AI to remove this age-old stressor. Just this past December, Google announced proactive flight notifications and airline technology company SITA recently revealed that it was successfully able to predict flight delays up to six hours before their expected arrival.
2. Personalization
Whether it’s a hotel room that feels like home (or better), itineraries that incorporate hotels, transportation services, restaurants and activities as unique as a fingerprint, or pertinent suggestions for alternatives, AI can tailor trips to suit anyone’s tastes and needs.
3. Safety
Safety is an essential factor in travel, especially when going to a new country. It’s difficult to know the reliable services in the area or who to trust for relevant information. But AI provides almost built-in security in the form of ranking or grading, reducing the chance of fraud.
More: Local Experts Can Make Crossing Borders Safer
4. Removing Language Barriers
Traveling to a new country with a different first language is a challenge. But now there are many apps available that make it easier than ever to communicate more efficiently with people all over the world. And Google translate works offline, making the language barrier smaller than ever.
