AI Travel Planning... Thoughts?

I was ready to jump down AIs throat, but that's a better itinerary than 90% of them suggested on this forum ;)

Have a great trip after your unfortunate week-long delay!

On second thought, I would tell AI that you would prefer to stay two nights in Ghent and day trip to Bruges (or vice versa).

Thanks, Hank! I agree with you.

Periscope... interesting responses to your post. The antipathy that many of them project remind me of people's attitudes to the early days of ATMs (I don't trust that I'll get the right amount of money... what if my deposit goes to some else's account?) and answering machines (I'll NEVER leave a message on one of those!). Years ago there were probably people who still preferred banging their clothes on rocks by the river instead of using a washing machine...

AI gets stronger and stronger. And since it "curates" the web information, it seems to me to be better than optins such as Viator and Travelocity.

Every day we wake up the future greets us whether we like it or not.

"On May 15, take a day trip to the historic city of Bruges in Belgium, which is about a 2.5-hour drive from Berkel-Enschot. Explore the fairytale-like city center and visit St. Bavo's Cathedral"

The important Saint Bavo/Sint-Baafs Cathedral is in Ghent, not Bruges. This is where the Van Eyck altarpiece, Adoration of the Mystic Lamb is located. They have an excellent Augmented Reality program in the crypt of Saint Bavo's for which you will need reservations.

https://www.sintbaafskathedraal.be/

The cathedral in Bruges that has the Michelangelo sculpture of the Virgin and Child is in the Church of Our Lady. The last time I visited here I did not need advanced reservations but you'd want to check that out since that was before Covid.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madonna_of_Bruges

In Bruges there is also the Church of the Holy Blood which is a tiny space. I last visited it in 2022 and did not need any kind of timed entry but you'd do well to check on that if seeing the relic here is interesting to you.

This travel planning is a declaration of intellectual bankruptcy of AI.

Every half-intelligent being would ask you first for interests instead of sending you to an average brewery with a 3+ hour train ride after a cross Atlantic flight (?) with jetlag. Do you drink alcohol? Nobody cares.

Of course, the AI ignores all the main sights which are along the way, including several UNESCO World Heritage Sites and a few of Germany's best 100 (voted by visitors) to arrive on time in the brewery for the sooo important tasting.

And St. Bavo's Cathedral instead of Cologne Cathedral? No way.

I have rarely seen a poorer itinerary.

It looks like a good start. Then you have to add a bit of humanity to it by asking more questions and seeing what the answers would be. But do double check everything independently. There is another AI thread right now and I wont be repetitive but that gentleman got so AI advice that was in error. But truth be told, probably not more error than I see here. The difference might be that here, people often chime in with answers to unasked questions that brings new ideas to the OP. Its a tool. Use it as it works best but do verify everything independently. At least the AI gave you a starting point.

I have no antipathy - - - however to suggest a more than 3 hour drive immediately after an intercontinental flight, to consume alcohol and presumably drive more since it gives no hint of overnight accommodation is completely irresponsible.

Then to get Bruges and Gent mixed up, giving no hint on the difficult parking in both, and making no reference to the mandatory permits for driving in them and Antwerp (next day) will land you both confused and owing money for the fines.

Has your AI friend ever tried to drive in Gent, or park either there or Bruges? No mention of chocolate?

How does it know you will be in Amsterdam by 4pm? Has it ever driven around Antwerp? I have. Don't put any money on the duration of the trip.

Has it warned you of the required adjunct to your driving license required in Germany? Or the incredibly slow 100 kph speed limit in the Netherlands or the crowded traffic? Parking or driving in Amsterdam?

But, as you say, other than trying to get you a fine for drink driving (didn't mention the lower limits) or possibly much worse, sending you to the wrong place and setting you up for very expensive fines, - - -- - it is a start.

Yeah, AI is just like the electric typewriter, the calculator, the scientific calculator, 128k apple home computer, the flip phone, the iPhone, iPad, and other technology they tried to pass on to the world. LOL I just can't stand it.

I like the AI itinerary's broad strokes! It suggested a set of interesting places, maybe not with razor precision in the details. Maybe even got some things flat out wrong. But I think all three of those places mentioned are awesome and well worth visiting.

Are we assuming that AI would have total control of the OP's itinerary? People ask these forums and get all kinds of suggestions thrown at them. And then it's on the original poster to employ their own likes and tastes and common sense in receiving that information.

Why would we expect the process with AI to be any different? Surely we don't buy that. Is AI going to become an authoritative overlord?: "and then thou will visit Ghent, or tremble before me!

I would be curious how AI would respond to:

Do I need to carry my passpost when traveling within Poland?

And

What are the rules for carrying my prescription medicines to England?

Hank,

I agree with you. Broad brush strokes and suggestions, and then go from there.

Hank, In other words it's a tool to be used within its capabilities? That would be novel ... wait, no, that makes sense.

Precisely Mister E! Which I guess makes us forum regulars all tools to be used within our capabilities as well. My capabilities might be narrower than most though ;)

"Narrow capabilities." I like that!

Plan to use it to describe my golf game.