Google is introducing additional tools that let users plan and reserve trips through AI Mode, its conversational search experience, the company announced on Thursday. Users can now ask AI Mode to monitor airfare, reserve hotels, and view flight and hotel costs in points or miles.
The latest features suggest Google is positioning AI Mode as a kind of AI-powered travel agent, moving past simply assisting users with information and toward managing portions of the trip-planning and reservation process.
Users can describe to AI Mode when and where they plan to fly, after which the tool will show the top available choices with current pricing from more than 300 airlines and travel sites. When they are ready to make a reservation, they can proceed with creating their itinerary within AI Mode. If they prefer to wait in case fares decrease, they can use a request such as “track these flight prices for me.”
They will subsequently receive an email whenever prices change for the destination and travel dates they provided. Flight price monitoring through AI Mode is now offered in more than 180 countries.
For hotel reservations, users can now search for and reserve their next hotel through a conversation with AI Mode. They can provide details about their upcoming journey and their preferred hotel features to receive a selection of properties along with reviews and important considerations.
After choosing a hotel they are interested in, users can ask AI Mode to assist with finalizing the reservation. They then need to choose the “Continue on Google” option shown alongside Google’s integrated partners, including hotel chains and travel sites.
After that, users can select their room, check information such as the cancellation policy, and finalize the reservation using Google Pay. Google notes that the hotel or booking platform remains responsible for managing the reservation and providing customer service.
Hotel reservations through AI Mode have begun rolling out in the U.S. in English and will become available over the coming weeks with offerings from Booking.com, Choice Hotels International, Expedia, Hilton, Hotels.com, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, Priceline, Trip.com, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.
Google also revealed that AI Mode can now show flight and hotel prices in points or miles when users make requests such as “I want to travel from Atlanta to Miami using my AA miles. Help me find some options for nonstop flights departing Oct 9 and returning on Oct 12”.
Users will then be shown the number of miles required to reserve the corresponding flights. The feature is now available globally.
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