Google has introduced new travel planning capabilities within its AI Mode feature, allowing users to describe their upcoming trips and generate itineraries using the “Create with Canvas” option. This tool creates a side panel with suggestions based on input, including flight and hotel information, photos, and reviews from Google Maps.
Users can further refine generated itineraries by posing follow-up inquiries, such as hotel recommendations based on price and amenities or activity suggestions depending on travel duration. Currently, this travel planning functionality is available to users in the US on desktop, provided they have opted into AI Mode within Labs. Drafted plans can be accessed later through the AI Mode’s history.
The Canvas feature, which initially launched in March as a workspace for various applications, has been integrated into AI Mode in Search. While Google announced travel planning for its Gemini platform last year, this latest update connects the feature directly to the search engine’s user base, potentially impacting travel companies like Kayak and Expedia, which are also developing AI functionalities.
Additionally, Google is expanding its booking capabilities, allowing AI Mode users in the US to book event tickets and local appointments through bot automation. Starting this week, restaurant booking options will be available to all US users, not just those in the Labs program. The AI Mode offers a selection of options with links to booking through partners such as OpenTable and Ticketmaster.
Google is also collaborating with major hotel and booking platforms, including Booking.com and Marriott International, to extend agentic booking services for flights and hotels. Furthermore, the company is expanding its AI-powered Flight Deals search feature, which is set to roll out globally to over 200 countries and territories and support more than 60 languages.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/822240/google-ai-mode-travel-plans-canvas