Synthetic intelligence is already making an attempt its hand as a journey agent: simply ask a chatbot about your chosen vacation spot, and in a few seconds you’ll get a full sightseeing itinerary, a listing of motels with good critiques, and even visa suggestions. And with the assistance of an AI agent, you’ll be able to even purchase tickets with out having to trawl by infinite airline web sites and flight aggregators. Seems like a traveler’s dream, however there are downsides. On this submit, we have a look at what to concentrate to when planning a trip with ChatGPT or one other AI assistant.
What might go unsuitable?
A Kaspersky examine reveals that simply 28% of AI customers belief synthetic intelligence to plan their holidays, (with 96% of that 28% being glad with such AI help). Be aware that chatbots possess no information of their very own, however be taught from enter texts and information, after which formulate essentially the most becoming reply to a query. And AI isn’t resistant to serving up inaccurate, outdated, or downright false data. Certain, some chatbots have already got an web search operate inbuilt, however infallible fact-checking remains to be a good distance off.
In March 2025, Mark Pollard of Australia was resulting from fly to Chile to offer a lecture. However he was turned away on the check-in desk for not having a visa. Mark had duly consulted ChatGPT concerning the visa necessities of assorted Latin American nations, and had blindly trusted its response. As of 2019, nevertheless, Australian residents want a visa to go to Chile, however this data was apparently unknown to the neural community. In one other case, AI suggested a journalist to go to museums that had been worn out by a forest fireplace.
Generally, even professionals on responsibility are led astray by unhealthy AI. In 2024, workers at Manila airport tried to cease a passenger boarding a UK-bound flight: she was a UK citizen, however solely had her US passport on her on the time. Because it seems, that isn’t grounds to disclaim boarding a flight to England, however the workers had been misinformed by Google AI Overviews. It took a name to the embassy to resolve the state of affairs.
In the event you don’t need AI to ship you to a closed restaurant or a non-existent landmark, then test the data in actual time. Simply remember — and beware — that connecting to public Wi-Fi is all the time a big gamble, with the safety of your units and information at stake. When overseas, it’s a lot safer to make use of cell web. There’s no want to purchase a bodily SIM card — simply use an eSIM.
Why you shouldn’t share private information with AI
Hottest Ais, like ChatGPT and Gemini, course of and retailer all person requests. Which signifies that within the occasion of a bug or main leak, outsiders might discover out an excessive amount of about you: journey dates, schedule, finances, and touring companions. So solely share with neural networks information that you just wouldn’t thoughts the entire world realizing.
Many corporations nowadays provide AI brokers — digital assistants that may autonomously carry out duties in your behalf. For instance, you’ll be able to ask an AI agent to ebook a tour, and e mail your colleagues about your upcoming trip (please don’t give AI brokers entry to work chats and e mail!). As soon as instructed, the AI agent both launches a digital machine or captures your laptop display and connects to third-party companies.
The issue is that you just threat giving the neural community not solely your private information, but additionally the liberty to carry out undesirable actions on web sites. Recall that AI brokers are weak to immediate injection assaults — hidden instructions that attackers plant on phishing pages and hacked web sites. Recognizing these by yourself is close to inconceivable: immediate injections are often embedded in a web site’s metadata or visible components.
For now a minimum of, the most secure method to plan trip journey is to do your individual analysis and purchase every part you want your self — utilizing AI solely as an auxiliary device. And to attenuate the dangers related to immediate injections, use a dependable safety answer that blocks all makes an attempt to contaminate your gadget with malware.
The right way to plan your trip with AI risk-free
- By no means share private information with AI that you just need to preserve secret.
- At all times double-check data provided by AI — a guide search is all the time greatest.
- Watch out with AI brokers: they’re liable to immediate injections, and should leak your information to attackers — or worse.
- Keep in mind that public Wi-Fi in airports, motels, and cafes isn’t safe: visitors isn’t protected, and attackers can snoop in your information. When on the street, it’s higher to make use of an eSIM for cell web.
What else to learn earlier than your journey:
