I hear so much about A I and I do not understand A I or the fuss about it although I am trying to.
But I wonder if it it might be helpful when it comes to travel.
One question asked a lot is about the right time to book air travel (to get the best rate) which no human seems truly able to predict. But I wonder if A I would be able to do that or come close to doing that.
I m trying to think of other ways that A I might be helpful with travel.
You might find this interesting - https://blog.ricksteves.com/cameron/2023/07/ai-vs-human-traveler/
Thank you, Carlos. I
am going to read it later because I have to go back to sleep. I am so tired that my vision has become blurry
<One question asked a lot is about the right time to book air travel (to get the best rate) which no human seems truly able to predict. But I wonder if A I would be able to do that or come close to doing that.
No person or computer can predict the future. It can give suggestions based on previous data but so can humans.
Too many variables.
FrankIi, theoretically, AI can cook all those variables down to the effect an airfare by increased wheat prices in Africa. "Theoretically"
Artificial Intelligence is a name a marketing boffin came up with. It is not intelligent, it just does what it is told and how it was trained. It is nothing more or less than a computer program following instructions - a big one and an expensive one.
All it does is search the internet and spew back what it finds in a simple form. If it finds facts it spews back facts. If it finds misinformation or trash it spews that back. It cannot tell the difference.
You have no way of knowing if the answer you get is good for you or pure bull hockey.
It cannot predict the future.
It is a way for big companies to advertise and extract information from individuals and make money to pay for their investment and then make huge profits. It is not there to help you.
Nigel’s definition of AI i is slightly jaded, and not completely accurate. AI does not just search the Internet and spit jargon back out at you.
I’ll give you an example. Hospitals are using it to look at MRI scans of your brain and based on the history in the learning the computer has done it can help us point to things that might potentially be a problem going forward. It’s much more sophisticated and better at this than a doctor. now everything is then validated by doctor and sometimes it’s wrong and if it is, the program gets that information to add to its information. It’s hard for me to explain but it does not just search the Internet and spit things back out. And it’s definitely there to help you because the goal is to find long-term problems such as brain tumors. I would say that’s actually pretty useful.
Now a lot of the chat features where you go in there and just randomly ask your computer give me a perfect day in Paris- that’s an internet search report
Carol's right.
What's available to you and me in things like chat gpt (the focus of my prior comment) is miles away from what is available to hospitals, researchers, warriors or scientists for example.
Most of us, especially computer rookies, will deal with the former but not the latter.
BostonPhil, there is still a lot we don't know about AI but it is more than just spewing forth internet material. A lot depends on how you phrase questions and the depth you go to. Here is one random question I put in based on your itinerary (sort of) and this is what ChatGPT came up with. As you can see, it's somewhat tailored to what you were asking. It's certainly not perfectly but it is a very useful tool and again, the more info you give it, the more you will get back. You can get this info in a random Google search, but you would have to sift through the multitude of responses and ads before coming up with this - and it would take 5 times as long. I got this response in about 15 seconds.
I will be taking a cruise from Southampton to Lisbon in mid-October and would like to plan a day's excursion to Normandy, France. I will have around 6 hours. What are some must-see sights?
ChatGPT:
Visiting Normandy, France, on a day trip from Southampton during your cruise is a great idea, especially if you have an interest in history and picturesque landscapes. Given your limited time frame of around 6 hours, it's important to plan your visit efficiently. Here are some must-see sights in Normandy for a day trip:
Normandy Beaches (D-Day Landing Beaches): The Normandy beaches are a must-visit, especially if you're interested in World War II history. The most famous beaches are Omaha Beach, Utah Beach, Juno Beach, Gold Beach, and Sword Beach. You can visit one or two of these beaches, but keep in mind that they are spread out along the coast.
Utah Beach Museum: If you choose Utah Beach, visit the Utah Beach Museum. It provides an excellent overview of the D-Day landings and the Battle of Normandy.
Pegasus Bridge: This is a historically significant site, known for being the location of a critical early operation on D-Day. The museum nearby offers insights into this operation.
Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial: Located near Omaha Beach, this is a moving and serene place to pay your respects to the soldiers who gave their lives during the D-Day landings.
Bayeux Tapestry: If you have an interest in medieval history, the Bayeux Tapestry is a UNESCO-listed masterpiece that depicts the Norman conquest of England in 1066. It's housed in the town of Bayeux, which is also charming to explore.
Mont Saint-Michel: While Mont Saint-Michel is a bit farther from the D-Day landing sites, it's one of France's most iconic landmarks. If you're willing to travel a bit more, it's a spectacular sight to behold.
Given your time constraints, I'd recommend focusing on either the D-Day landing beaches and related museums or visiting Bayeux and the Bayeux Tapestry. You may need to prioritize and plan your itinerary carefully to make the most of your 6 hours.
Remember to check the cruise ship's schedule and transportation options from Southampton to Normandy, as well as any visa requirements if applicable, to ensure a smooth day trip. It's also a good idea to book any guided tours or transportation in advance to make the most of your limited time.
END OF CHATGPT
If you want to try it, just go to https://chat.openai.com and sign up. It's fun to use and you get very fast responses. It certainly doesn't take the place of information you get from forums like this, but it is a useful tool, imo.
Thank you to everyone. I am running late. Heading out to an event in downtown Austin so will answer later or tomorrow.
It is also time to check in on line and download my cruise documents with Norwegian. That means my cruise is 21 days away.
II'm going sailing.
In my museum work life, except for filming, editing video and managing our YouTube channel, I'm stuck in the past with old technologies and a lot of hand work. But, Carol summed up my thoughts towards AI, with a tiny little bit of Nigel rolled in. What is striking though, is most do not seem to understand what AI is, or what it has to offer, with most opinions shaped by an ignorant excitable media that has no understanding of it, with a flashy AI toy in something like ChatGTP.
Personally, I do not see myself using AI to help in travel planning. I enjoy the research and digging into the layers of information. To give that up to someone else takes all the enjoyment away.
"Personally, I do not see myself using AI to help in travel planning. I enjoy the research and digging into the layers of information. To give that up to someone else takes all the enjoyment away."
I think VAP makes an important point with this comment. I, too, like the research and planning!
I post a lot on Trip Advisor's Yellowstone forum. Several times this summer people have asked opinions on itineraries that were clearly ChatGPT formulated. While they hit most of the "high spots" the days were structured weirdly and there was WAY too much back and forthing across the park. Yellowstone is really big and for a first timer it's better to group things you want to see in the same area together. I think ChatGPT must have structured the itinerary based on a numerical rating for each of the major "sites". None of them left time for watching wildlife and/or geysers.
Coincidentally I am putting together a presentation about AI for work. I used ChatGPT to ask this: "Which towns should I visit on a bike ride from Melk to Krems." This is a path I am planning for a trip in May. Here us what it came up with. I think it's close except I think the towns are out of order.
When biking from Melk to Krems in Austria along the Danube River, you can make several scenic stops in charming towns along the way. Here are some notable towns to consider stopping in:
Dürnstein: This picturesque town is known for its historic castle ruins and colorful buildings. It's a popular stop for tourists and offers stunning views of the Danube.
Spitz: Spitz is another lovely town with a beautiful riverside promenade and traditional Austrian architecture. You can explore its wine culture and taste some local wines.
Weißenkirchen: This small town is known for its wine production. You can visit local wineries and sample some of the region's best wines.
Emmersdorf an der Donau: Just before reaching Krems, you'll come across Emmersdorf, which has a lovely riverside park and a historic parish church.
Krems: Finally, you'll reach Krems, a larger town with a historic old town center, museums, and plenty of dining options.
These towns offer a mix of history, culture, and natural beauty, making your bike ride along the Danube a memorable experience.
MorganMurphy, this has nothing to do with AI but do not miss Dürnstein if you can help it. It was one of the most charming and lovely villages I've been in. I enjoyed my visit there so much and would love to go back again.
Hi Carlos
I skimmed the article. it was interesting.
Right now, I have a neutral feeling about AI. It's ok is how I am feeling. I am not fearful of it but I am not going out of my mind about it.
For whatever reason, everyone is talking about it and I dso not see what the big fuss is.
I have just come home from the Texas Tribune Festival and attended a conversation with Larry Wright, the well known author and Evan Smith
To no surprise, AI was brought up.
Larry said that he tried it one time. He asked for a joke and was sent one that he had already heard. It caused him to feel concern about originality and also copyright violations.
However he said that he would probably try AI in the future although he had no plans to do so.
Mardee, in the test question you asked about Normandy, how did AI know that you had a US-focused interest in WWII sights, versus, say, art or food, or Canadian landing beaches? Did it calculate that most questions about Normandy were from Americans and that we tend to equate Normandy with D-Day history?
I think the weakpoint in AI at this time, is the human part: many people can't communicate in clear and specific questions. If people ask broad open-ended questions, like many first-timers do here, it seems less likely to give useful answers.
Larry said that he tried it one time. He asked for a joke and was sent one that he had already heard. It caused him to feel concern about originality and also copyright violations
Sounds like What he was really doing was talking to the chat program. That is not your sophisticated, artificial intelligence. Oh, and yes chat has a lot of concerns about copyright infringement
Mardee, in the test question you asked about Normandy, how did AI know that you had a US-focused interest in WWII sights, versus, say, art or food, or Canadian landing beaches? Did it calculate that most questions about Normandy were from Americans and that we tend to equate Normandy with D-Day history?
I think the weakpoint in AI at this time, is the human part: many people can't communicate in clear and specific questions. If people ask broad open-ended questions, like many first-timers do here, it seems less likely to give useful answers.
Stan, yes, I think you're correct in that it assumes that most questions about Normandy (especially someone going there for the day) will be interested in D-Day history. And I definitely agree with you that the more detailed the question, the better AI works. That's one of the reasons I play around with it a lot.
Hi Carol
you are probably correct. Larry was probably talking to one of the more common AI programs, not the ones that are very specialized and maybe more complicated. I can not recall if he even said which one he was using but there are not that many currently available, correct. And persons like you and myself would be using the more common ones.
Nigel, Carol and others
I am retired from.Market Research and we conducted focus groups and other paid market research studies. My company was legit and we always paid you, sometimes well, for your opinions.
We recruited persons who used a product or service as well as those who did not. We never tried to sell anything. All we wanted was opinions.
But from these research studies, a marketing campaign and advertising campaign was developed. The idea was to improve business by getting those who did not buy or use a product to buy or use a product.
It was used to improve the bottom line among other things. Changes were made to improve the product or service based on opinions in our studies
I would guess that market research studies are being done around AI and the different programs that are currently available including the more sophisticated and specialized ones.
We did some from different companies in the travel industry including the cruise lines. We might ask "what do you want in a. cruise line" or "what do you not like about cruising" and a few months later, there would be a TV ad about a particular cruise line telling you back exactly what participants had told us in the focus groups or one to one's.
This was on the BBC News site this morning and this is a very good example of havoc caused b y bad actors using AI
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66877718
OK so this is not about travel per se but these same criminals and fraudsters could possibly create havoc in our lives when it does come to travel. If this is what they can do to young persons in a small community in Spain, what might they be able o do to other vulnerable persons like old ;people traveling
I am not as intelligent as these criminals. I can not think like them and have no interest in doing so but they are often way ahead of us so called normal folks
AI is a tool, just like the internet, it can be used for both good and bad.
bostonphil7- AI is the future and will affect every aspect of your life, whether or not you want to believe it. Every work conference I attend AI and our job future is a big topic and how to AI proof yourself. I have been listening to podcasts on the subject to better educate myself on the subject.
I am currently in the process of planning an Ireland/Scotland road trip and have narrowed down the Ireland portion to just Northern Ireland based on time constraints and have a rough draft of the route we want to take, this is after hours of you tubing, reading vlogs, looking at how others have tackled it. Afterwards I put everything in GPchat with the places I want to visit, how many days and it spit out a plan very similar to what I had researched along with a logical order to do them in. I am tweeking some stuff, of course but It validated my plan and gave me some food for thought.
AI is as good as the database it uses. AI is a tool that can learn and do things much quicker than we as humans can do. If you use AI CHAT and ask a simple question like, "List for me the closest hotels near the train station." You will probably get 10 listed. Ask more specifically about hotels with AC, it will do a much better job. The more and more you are specific the better. Also, it will keep listing more if you keep repeating, "list more hotels with this criteria".
AI can always give you an itinerary, but you have to set the parameters and that leaves it open and vague because there is so much to see everywhere. I find AI makes searching so much faster and easier. Many questions people ask here could be solved by an AI search. Such as, "What hotels are close to the airport that have a 4 star rating or better? They would be listed with a rating, but not any opinion as you get here.
Forums are opinion based and AI is fact based on data available. The search engine BING uses AI heavily in its seaches.
