ChatGPT was officially launched on November 30th, 2022.
From scriptwriting to headshot generation, artificial intelligence has established itself as a prominent player across all walks of professional life, and the travel industry is no exception. While novice travelers have traditionally opted for travel agents or consulting local tourism boards, recent technological advances have ushered in a new strategy for planning the perfect vacation—yet in spite of their ease of use, certain figures within the realm of travel worry that the information given through platforms like ChatGPT is far from perfect.
In an effort to expose the weak points of ChatGPT, TourScanner co-founder Guillaume Picard fed multiple queries into the program, asking specifically for “money-saving hacks for visiting top tourist attractions.” While answers ranged from “timing is everything” to “consider annual passes,” some responses were more troubling.
Become a Temporary Tour Guide
In an effort to cut down on attraction costs, the platform provided the following suggestion: “Some attractions allow visitors to volunteer as temporary guides. In exchange for your time and knowledge, you might receive free admission or special access.”
It’s easy to see how such a strategy could lead to immediate issues. Picard notes that tourists are likely lacking in the sufficient training when compared to a typical tour guide—it takes 18 months to become certified as a guide in London, for example—while simultaneously, offering spontaneous tours to unsuspecting visitors will likely take up large amounts of time, therefore torpedoing your leisurely vacation. In lieu of this advice, TourScanner suggests that visitors attend their attractions during the quiet season or throughout off-hours.
Offer Your Professional Skills
A second piece of advice given by ChatGPT weighed the option of using your personal talents to your advantage, stating: “Offer your skills or services in exchange for admission. For example, if you’re a professional photographer, you might offer to take promotional photos for the attraction.”
Regardless of how talented you are, Picard notes that posing this as an alternative to purchasing a ticket will “likely see you laughed out the door or met with a strange look.” While it’s likely that popular destinations have already amassed a wealth of high-quality photos, this solution also holds the added disadvantage of taking work away from locals, potentially contributing to the widening wealth disparity between tourists and residents seen across many developing nations. As an alternative, Picard suggests that visitors consult the local tourism office to seek alternative, less-frequented destinations to explore.
Take Dangerous Transportation
Finally, one solution was particularly troubling to Picard. In an effort to reduce transportation costs, ChatGPT provided the following advice: “If it’s safe and legal in the area, consider hitchhiking or sharing rides with other tourists to save on transportation costs.”
While it’s certainly cost-effective, hitchhiking has had devastating—and even deadly—results for many people over the decades. In addition to the already-present danger, Picard notes that communication barriers or lack of knowledge of cultural intricacies could lead to unsafe situations, with the potential for being stranded in an unfamiliar place if negotiations go south. In lieu of attempting hitchhiking, Picard sticks to tried-and-true methods ranging from walking to biking to using public transportation.
While artificial intelligence certainly has its place in society, it’s clear that each program is still far from perfect—and when it comes to travel advice in particular, your best bet is speaking with an actual human that’s well-versed in the craft. In order to plan a truly memorable trip, be sure to take all AI-generated advice with a grain of salt, or for best results, consult a real-life travel expert to ensure your journey is as hassle-free as humanly possible.
Alan Turing is often considered the father of modern artificial intelligence.
