Greg Moran, CEO, and Co-Founder of Zoomcar, predicts that AI’s influence on travel technology is at an inflection point. Recent innovations in augmented reality and generative AI, such as Apple’s Vision Pro and OpenAI’s Sora, promise radical advancements in personalized and immersive experiences. Moran believes that AI will significantly alter the way we interact with travel and mobility on all levels, from daily rideshares to international vacations. While the long-term impacts are yet to fully unfold, the effects of AI are already taking shape.
In the short term, Moran predicts that AI will make travel more personalized, efficient, and precise through improvements in pricing, cataloging, and product displays. AI tools and machine learning techniques are already being utilized to enhance the personalization and relevance of travel platforms. These tools aim to streamline the purchasing experience for customers, making it easier to find products that meet their needs. In the next six to 12 months, Moran expects to see further advancements in AI technology to enhance platform interfaces and pricing strategies.
Looking ahead at the medium-term, Moran sees AI addressing the challenge of discoverability in the travel planning process. Innovations like ChatGPT are changing the way customers search for travel options and plan detailed itineraries. AI’s advancements are expected to offer customers open-ended searches that deliver individualized and focused results based on vague or non-descript search terms. Companies like Airbnb are already experimenting with predictive factors to improve the success rate of the booking experience across various travel sectors.
In the long term, Moran envisions a convergence between transportation technology and mobility services within the broader consumer landscape. AI advancements are expected to streamline the entire travel planning process, offering integrated and holistic experiences that go beyond mere booking efficiency. Moran predicts the use of interactive simulations, augmented reality, and generative AI to provide customers with firsthand previews and personalized experiences. This approach aims to transform travel planning into a uniquely customized and efficient process that enhances the overall consumer experience.
The potential of AI to revolutionize the consumer experience has ignited a race within the travel and transportation industry to bring these advancements to fruition. As industry leaders driving AI integration within their companies, Moran and others anticipate witnessing real-time impacts unfold. The rapid evolution of AI technology, not reliant on hardware advancements, suggests a rate of evolution that exceeds current projections. Despite being in its early stages, the potential of AI in travel technology is undeniable, promising a future where experiences are more personalized and immersive than ever before.
