New artificial intelligence features are being introduced to online search, designed to streamline the entire process of planning and booking travel. These tools aim to help users build detailed itineraries, find low-cost flights, and make reservations for hotels and activities with greater ease.
The updates include an itinerary builder called Canvas, a globally expanded Flight Deals tool, and new capabilities that allow the AI to actively find and present booking options from various platforms. These features signal a shift from simple information retrieval to a more interactive and automated travel planning experience.
Key Takeaways
- A new tool named Canvas uses AI to create customized travel itineraries by combining data from search, maps, and other web sources.
- The AI-powered Flight Deals feature has expanded globally to over 200 countries, helping users find affordable airfare.
- New 'agentic' AI capabilities allow the system to search for real-time availability for restaurant reservations, with plans to include flights and hotels.
- Major travel industry companies are partnering to integrate their booking systems directly into the new AI experience.
Building Your Trip with an AI Assistant
One of the central updates is an interactive planning space called Canvas. This feature, currently available to users in the United States who have opted into the AI Mode experiment, functions as a dynamic trip organizer.
Users can start by describing the type of trip they want. The AI then generates a preliminary plan in a side panel, pulling together flight and hotel information, Google Maps details like photos and reviews, and other relevant content from across the web. This creates an initial framework that can be refined.
The system is designed to be conversational. A user can ask follow-up questions to adjust the plan, such as comparing two hotels based on their proximity to different attractions. The process allows for trade-offs, like choosing a hotel that is closer to restaurants but farther from a planned hiking trail. The itinerary is saved, allowing users to pause their planning and return to it later.
What is AI Mode?
AI Mode is an experimental feature in Search that provides AI-powered overviews and conversational tools to help users with complex queries. It goes beyond traditional search results by synthesizing information and allowing for interactive follow-up questions. The travel planning tools are being integrated into this experimental environment.
Global Expansion of AI-Powered Flight Deals
For travelers focused on finding the best price, the AI-powered Flight Deals tool is expanding its reach. Previously tested in the U.S., Canada, and India, the feature is now rolling out to more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.
This tool is aimed at flexible travelers who do not have a fixed destination in mind. Users can describe their travel preferences in natural language, such as when and where they might like to go. The AI then analyzes this request to identify and display the most affordable flight options available.
Worldwide Availability
The Flight Deals feature now supports over 60 languages and is available in key markets including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, and Korea, making it accessible to a much broader global audience.
This expansion represents a significant step in using AI to make budget travel more accessible. Instead of manually searching multiple destinations and dates, users can delegate the initial bargain-hunting task to the AI, saving time and potentially reducing costs.
From Searching to Doing: The Next Step in AI Booking
Perhaps the most significant development is the introduction of 'agentic' AI capabilities, which allow the system to take action on behalf of the user. This feature moves beyond providing information to actively finding available bookings.
Initially, this capability is being rolled out for restaurant reservations in the U.S. A user can describe their dining needs, including party size, cuisine preference, and desired time. The AI will then search across multiple booking platforms to find real-time availability that matches the criteria.
The system will present a curated list of options with direct links to finalize the booking through partners like OpenTable, Resy, and Tock.
This functionality is also being extended to event tickets and local appointments for U.S. users in the experimental Labs program. Partners for these services include major platforms such as Ticketmaster, StubHub, SeatGeek, Booksy, and Fresha.
The Future of Integrated Travel Booking
The long-term vision is to apply this agentic model to the entire travel booking process. Soon, users may be able to book flights and hotels directly within the AI-driven search experience.
The plan involves allowing users to describe their ideal flight or hotel, and the AI will compare options based on schedules, prices, amenities, and reviews. Once a choice is made, the user will be able to complete the booking quickly with a partner of their choice.
To achieve this, deep collaboration with the travel industry is underway. Key partners already working on this integration include:
- Booking.com
- Choice Hotels International
- Expedia
- IHG Hotels & Resorts
- Marriott International
- Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
This collaboration is crucial, as it ensures that the AI has access to real-time inventory and pricing from a wide range of providers. The goal is to create a single, seamless interface where a traveler can go from a vague idea to a fully booked trip, with the AI handling the logistical heavy lifting.
By automating the more tedious aspects of comparing options and finding availability, these new tools aim to let travelers focus more on the enjoyable parts of planning a trip.