Latest news with #JadeKessler
Tom's Guide
2 hours ago
- Business
- Tom's Guide
Google's new AI-powered flight search could make your next vacation cheaper — here's what we know
Google has been rolling out AI-powered features left, right, and centre. The latest of its tools to get the big upgrade is Google Flights, now powered with generative AI technology. This kind of update seems perfectly set up for booking flights. It allows Google Flight users to perfectly customize a booking to their needs. 'Flight Deals is designed for travelers whose number one goal is saving money on their next trip,' Jade Kessler, Product Manager for Google Flights, explained in a blog post. 'Instead of playing with different dates, destinations, and filters to uncover the best deals, you can just describe, when, where, and how you'd like to travel — as though you're talking to a friend — and Flight Deals will take care of the rest.' This works in a similar way to other generative AI tools you might have used, like ChatGPT or an AI image generator. Open up Google Flights and use the search bar. Google gives the example of 'week-long trip this winter to a city with great food, nonstop only' or '10-day ski trip to a world-class resort with fresh powder.' This is a style that is becoming more common in booking tools thanks to AI. Instead of searching using filters and locations, you can search via a description, including the key features you're after. Once you've searched, Google Flights will respond with the best prices available that match the requirements in your search. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Google is currently launching this feature in beta. At this stage, the tool is still in training, but Google promises that you can still use Google Flights in its standard form, even if you've received the AI update. This feature will first roll out in the US, Canada and India. You don't need to opt in, it will simply automatically become available to you. The feature can be used either from the Flight Deals page or via the top-left menu on Google Flights.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Decoded: Google's new flight deals is as much about prices, as it is about vibes
A cursory Google Search may well have been the point from where you commenced booking your upcoming travel plans — a move that taps into typical user behaviour with a pitch of familiarity and simplicity. In what may prove to be astute in the long term, Google has unlocked flight deals in India, the US, and Canada, underlined by artificial intelligence (AI) for natural language understanding and contextual structuring of a travel plan. At first blush, you may expect Google Flight deals to be just another widget or overlay that screams 'find me cheap fares', but it isn't. (Screengrab) At first blush, you may expect Google Flight deals to be just another widget or overlay that screams 'find me cheap fares', but it isn't. Google is attempting to move further up the travel planning and booking funnel — aiming to be relevant both to users seeking a comprehensive snapshot of the best deals and those who are beginning vacation planning with a blank slate. 'What makes flight deals unique is that it uses Google's advanced AI to understand the nuances of what you're looking for and identify matching destinations. Then, it'll tap into real-time Google Flights data to quickly show you relevant, up-to-date options from hundreds of airlines and booking sites. We're launching flight deals in beta to gather feedback and explore how AI can improve travel planning,' product manager for Google Flights Jade Kessler explains. Google's business model for flight deals would certainly be a concern for online travel agencies (OTAs) like MakeMyTrip and Cleartrip in India, because there is some overlap. Typically, a user lands on an OTA's app or website with a destination in mind, searches for flights and hotels, and makes a purchase. OTAs also offer travel packages, sightseeing tours, vehicle rentals, and more. In contrast, Google Flight deals are focused solely on being relevant to the user's intent — whether it's to search for a destination or a flight. It lists ticket prices from both OTAs such as MakeMyTrip and Cleartrip, as well as directly from airlines. For instance, a search for Delhi to Chiang Mai flights showed HT options from multiple airlines, including THAI and AirAsia combinations, THAI, Malaysia Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and code shares between Etihad and Bangkok Airways — complete with flight timelines, stops, and pricing. For each flight, clicking the downward arrow reveals more details such as layover durations, airport specifics, and in-flight features like above-average legroom, in-seat power or USB ports, and whether entertainment is provided onboard or needs to be streamed on personal devices. At this stage in the flow, once your flights are selected, Google Flight deals shows you booking options. For most flights, HT noted that results listed more than 10 booking platforms, each with pricing: direct airline booking, MakeMyTrip, Cleartrip, Goibibo, EaseMyTrip, Flightnetwork, Traveasy, and Kiwi, among others. Prices listed matched airline rates at the same time, though slight variations can occur due to dynamic pricing models. If a user opts to book directly with an airline, it may result in loss of traffic and bookings for OTAs — making OTA-specific deals and perceived value even more critical. So how are these results ranked? Specifically, what determines the order between airline and OTA options? Google says, 'Booking options are ranked based on factors like price, link quality, type of partner and experience on the partner site,' adding, 'Google's data shows that users prefer airline links, but Google aims to provide both airline and OTA options among the top results.' One standout feature of flight deals is its natural language AI, powered by Google's Gemini, designed to understand nuanced user queries — even when the destination is not clear. Searches such as 'a week-long trip to a city with great food' or 'an international trip in Business class' yield curated destination suggestions. In HT's experience with the beta version, such a search surfaced more than 28 destinations — from Marrakesh in Morocco to Lima in Peru to Goa closer to home. In a technical document, Google explains, AI 'understands travel intent and interprets natural language, so you can describe your trip in your own words. For example, you can ask to 'see the cherry blossoms in Japan' or look for 'romantic weekend getaways' instead of selecting specific destinations and dates.' At that point, the system identifies potential destinations and dates that align with the query. This marks a shift that traditional aggregators haven't effectively addressed. MakeMyTrip and Cleartrip are still geared toward optimising known journeys, while Google is curating options for users starting with a feeling, not a destination. OTA interfaces typically push curated deals and assume users know where they want to go. Google's Flight deals assumes users are seeking inspiration — shifting from utilitarian search to an exploratory experience. For MakeMyTrip and Cleartrip, this presents a classic innovator's dilemma. Their business models depend on transactions and defined user flows. Pivoting to an AI-driven, inspiration-first model would demand significant platform changes. It's worth noting that MakeMyTrip has launched a generative AI assistant to help with travel planning. But Google's massive data advantage and deep understanding of user behaviour may make personalisation and travel history the biggest differentiator over time.
