NEW YORK — Expedia Group, an early adopter of AI, has deployed the technology throughout its platform and reports tangible results. Development executives discussed it during the Explore Local event held here.

Take, for instance, Scout, an AI-powered system the company created. Scout makes recommendations to Expedia’s hotel partners based on what similar properties in the marketplace are doing.

“Based on these recommendations, our hotel partners last year took a million actions with great results,” said Greg Schulze, Expedia’s chief commercial officer. “These actions resulted in 10% incremental transactions and $6 billion of incremental revenue to our partners.”

AI is also “turbo-charging” Expedia’s advertising products, Schulze said, with artificial creative intelligence that generates images and machine learning-powered programs that select the right images for travelers.

Hari Nair, senior vice president and general manager of Hotels.com, provided an example of how Hotels.com is using AI to improve the traveler’s experience. The OTA was among the first to introduce AI filters. Travelers can search for “a hotel with a balcony and a sauna,” he said. The top three most-searched terms are hotels with parking, free breakfast and all-inclusives.

“The conversion in this case is almost 1.3 times the average conversion rate that we see on our site,” Nair said of users who use AI filters.

On Expedia’s consumer-facing app, a new capability launched in January that utilizes AI to analyze more than 2 million flights a day, said Tracey Weber, senior vice president and general manager of the Expedia brand. Its aim is to find fares “that are at least 20% better than the predicted price,” then alert consumers.

“For our travelers, this is a first step in figuring out where might be a great place to go and really inspire them as a demand driver,” she said.

It’s also a conversion driver, according to Weber, with 15% higher conversion with travelers who use the feature.
Additionally, an AI itinerary builder has gotten a good reception among consumers. Weber said 65% or more of Expedia’s customers who use the feature describe it as “a delightful experience.” 

The importance of AI at Expedia

In a press conference, Schulze said AI is “in our DNA.” Sam Altman, CEO of ChatGPT creator OpenAI, previously sat on Expedia’s board. Today, Alexandr Wang, founder of Scale AI and Meta’s AI chief, is a board member.

Expedia Group, Schulze said, thinks of AI in three main buckets. First is improving Expedia’s experience for travelers and partners alike. Second is working with AI-native companies like OpenAI on several fronts, ensuring travelers are still being directed to Expedia and that the company is providing the right kind of content — and accurate content — for AI engines to consume. Third, he said, is productivity.

The Scout example he gave on stage is an example of the third bucket, Schulze said. In addition to providing actionable recommendations to hotel partners, Scout is also deployed internally with Expedia’s sales and technology teams.

Another internal feature Expedia has created for employees is a framework that helps them choose which Large Language Model (AI models behind generative AI platforms like ChatGPT) is right for any given purpose, according to Karen Bolda, chief product and technology officer of Expedia’s B2B business.

“There are over 60-plus models there, because certain models are better at certain things,” Bolda said.

When it comes to AI, Expedia is always considering whether it should partner with other companies that have developed specific products or develop its own in-house, Bolda said. Partnering often enables the company to move faster.

Today, a big focus is “an agent-to-agent ecosystem,” Bolda said, connecting agents doing things like discovery and shopping. As an example of what that might look like, Schulze described the virtual agents Expedia has long employed to chat with users.

They are “pretty straightforward — you ask this question, you get this answer,” he said. “And the technology has evolved now so much to where it’s much more open and fluid.”

That can be combined with Expedia’s content and data, which he called the company’s biggest strength, “to really help our travelers make informed choices, to help our partners find solutions.”

Important to Expedia’s overall AI strategy, Bolda said, is ensuring it’s built into the platform.

“We’re not bolting it on,” she said. “It’s woven throughout the entire platform.”

Schulze said the company tries to be as nimble as possible with AI, and encourages a lot of experimentation.
“The interesting thing is, as advanced as it is, I’d say we’re still in the early days,” he said.

The New York event was Expedia’s first local Explore event. For more than 20 years, Expedia has held an Explore event, typically in Las Vegas. Recently, the company decided to switch off years, alternating between Las Vegas and its headquarters in Seattle, with the addition of regional events. More regional events will be held in London, Cancun and Bangkok.

If you’re anything like me, you really like spontaneous, unplanned trips but don’t like organizing things ahead . If you’re planning a summer road trip, you’re sure to be one of many on the road, so it’s definitely a good idea to think about your route now so you can avoid the worst of the traffic and figure out what you can see along the way.

A friend sent me a list of different artificial intelligence tools they used to make trip planning easier. This list included Curiosio, an AI trip planning tool that provides a map, budget and calculated trip length for you within seconds. My ears perked up imagining its potential output speed.

What is Curiosio AI?

My nonnegotiables for an AI trip planner list include a bright and accessible interface, little to no fees and inspiration for my upcoming trip. Curiosio delivered. 

The tool was created by Vas Mylko and Roman Bilusiak to support solo, budget-conscious and multistop travelers seeking personalized road trip experiences that feature cost breakdowns and flexible itineraries.

The free, AI-powered platform offers features like route optimization, detailed itineraries with maps, cost and time breakdowns and detailed guides to destinations. 

Between its Geek, Travel and Beta modes, Curiosio compiles quite a few tools to help navigate and embellish your getaway, regardless of what kind of adventure you’re going on.

What I particularly enjoyed about Curiosio was the focus on road trips instead of trying to be an all-in-one travel planner. I also enjoyed its country-specific branding, which includes a hot air balloon adorned with each nation’s flag, and its typeface that is reminiscent of an Indiana Jones PC game. With many sleek, yet sterile, tech brands on the market, I thought this gave the website a sweet touch.

How to use Curiosio for AI road trip planning  

Let’s first break down the three modes within Curiosio: Travel, Geek and Beta. 

Travel Mode is for travelers or busybodies who want a simplified, real-time guide. Needless to say, I fall into this category. Here, you can follow your itinerary with directions and context-aware tips. This is perfect if you want hands-off-the-wheel support. 

There’s also Geek Mode, for the detail-driven, perfectionist folks who want control over every detail of their trip. Direct that friend or partner over to this mode so they can put all that energy in Curiosio, and not on you. Here you can customize routing, add filters and use logic to the best of your planning ability. 

And Beta Mode is for the innovative, experimental type who not only thrives off novelty, but loves diving into a new thing before anyone else. Here you can get access to AI enhancements (and bugs) but also try out new features. At the time of writing, Curiosio was developing its membership to focus on the travel experience. 

This is how to use Curiosio’s travel tool:

1. Head to the website and enter your country. 
2. Once selected, navigate to the top and select Travel to enter your starting point and desired destination(s) for your road trip. Specify dates, duration and your budget preferences.  
3. Let the AI do its thing and create a personalized road trip plan. Curiosio promises that this will not take longer than 100 seconds. For reference, my plans were generated in about 35 seconds. 
4. Review the suggested routes. My output generated four itineraries, ranging in budget and trip length. You can toggle to see the full itinerary breakdown, including a day-by-day itinerary, hotels and budget allocation. 
5. Modify by adding or removing the destination to start over, or adjust the travel dates or budget to better fit your needs. 
6. Once you’re satisfied, finalize your itinerary. This is where you can export the plan to your preferred format or integrate with other mapping tools. Head to the upper right corner of your trip itinerary and select Google Maps from the dropdown menu, or copy the link over to your preferred GPS system. 
7. Then use Google Maps or your GPS system to monitor real-time traffic, plus check out any interesting spots between your starting point and your trip’s destination. (Though an integrated traffic monitoring system would be a beneficial addition to Curiosio.)

Should you use AI to plan your road trip?

Curiosio is a simple yet ideal tool for independent travelers who crave flexibility, customization and a touch of adventure — especially those planning multistop road trips. 

I see it as a great fit for digital nomads, couples, small groups or anyone taking a chaotic road trip with family who wants a streamlined way to create detailed itineraries without relying on prepackaged tours. 

If you’re someone who enjoys the planning process but wants help optimizing routes while also discovering hidden gems, Curiosio can be a time-saving, dopamine-boosting tool. It’s also particularly useful for travelers who are budget-conscious but still want well-rounded travel experiences with context tailored to the places they’re going. I found the tool easy to navigate, and it definitely helped me save time.

Now, Curiosio might not be the best choice for travelers seeking all-inclusive vacations, group tours or very spontaneous getaways. If you prefer to book flights and resorts, or if your travel is centered around staying in one city the entire time, the platform’s road trip-focused approach may feel unnecessary and somewhat rudimentary. 

It’s safe to say that if you’re seeking an easy, functional and road trip-focused AI tool to support and speed up your planning process, Curiosio is a simple yet functional option.

Planning in seconds is an ideal compromise. Now, if only it could pack for me, too.

Buckle up! You’re flying to Seoul, South Korea, to watch your favorite K-pop group’s first full-squad comeback. Concert tickets? Secured. Flights? Booked. Bags? Packed. But before you start snapping that first airport selfie, you’ve got some planning to lock down.

Unfold Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 — your ultimate travel companion with multimodal capability for smoother, and smarter travel.

As the thinnest and lightest Galaxy Z Fold series device yet, its pro-level cameras and AI features make it the ideal travel buddy. Translation: zero travel stress, max fandom vibes.

Before You Go: Unfold Your Travel Planner

You’re about to witness a once-in-a-lifetime reunion show, and it’s also your first time visiting Seoul. Relax. Galaxy Z Fold7 will handle the details.

Press and hold the side button to activate Gemini. Drop your concert date, hotel address and wish-list spots, then tell it:

“Recommend a 4-day, 3-night itinerary including a K-pop concert and save it to Samsung Notes.”

Gemini generates a custom itinerary, complete with must-visit fan cafés and your personal favorite’s trainee-era hangouts, fueling your ultimate K-pop pilgrimage.

“Should I pack this T-shirt or a hoodie?”

Don’t know what to pack? Let Gemini suggest for you. Activate camera sharing on Gemini Live[1] to hold up your outfit options and just ask Gemini what works best to get real-time advice. It will consider Seoul’s weather and the kind of exploring you’ll be doing. No more overpacking so you’ll have more room in your luggage to bring home all that concert swag.

When the jet-set countdown starts, Now Brief[2] has you covered. It shows your boarding pass details, Seoul’s current weather and real-time exchange rates front and centre — so you can check what matters at a glance, before your trip.

Gate to Stage: AI Navigates Your Tour

You land at Incheon International Airport and the clock is ticking, so you ask:

“What’s the fastest and most affordable route to my hotel carrying two suitcases?”

In no time, Gemini displays side-by-side cards for airport express trains, buses and taxis, complete with fares, travel times and transfer counts all laid out.

Seoul Highlights, From Tradition to Modernity

After leaving your luggage at the hotel, day one kicks off at Bukchon Hanok Village, the perfect “Hello, Korea” setting for your vlog. Rest the Galaxy Z Fold7 on a ledge — Flex Mode lets you shoot easily, no tripod needed, while capturing the full Hanok backdrop

But wait. Those unwanted photobombers in your pictures? Gone. Galaxy AI’s Photo Assist understands the whole scene, and Suggest Erases[3] automatically detects and removes them with one tap. All done without post-editing hassle. Plus, with Side-by-Side Editing and Show Original, you can instantly compare the before-and-after images on the unfolded screen.

Next stop: K-beauty heaven. Aisles and aisles of products, but when you pick one up to read the label, it’s all in Korean. No worries. Camera sharing on Gemini Live can translate the ingredient labels listed in Korean, sprinkling in emojis for context to help you know what you’re buying. Still overwhelmed? Ask Gemini:

“Recommend one for sensitive skin.”

Gemini cross-checks the ingredients and suggests a top 3 recommendation list tailored to you. You can check out like a skincare pro, not a confused tourist.

Main Stage Moment: Your Favourite Idol Up Close

It’s finally the big day. Your lightstick is charged, your phone is fully juiced and the stadium is crowded with fans. You might be stuck in the nosebleeds, but Galaxy Z Fold7’s 200MP camera captures your personal favorite up close with crystal-clear detail. Moreover, thanks to the 10 MP 100° front camera, you can squeeze all your new friends into one frame and still grab the boys on stage too. When the arena goes dark, Nightography kicks in, turning a sea of flickering lightsticks into sharp, balanced footage you’ll replay on a loop after the encore.

Final Encore: Edit and Elevate

Say goodbye, Seoul — hello airborne edit bay. Plane rides are perfect for some creativity. With Galaxy Z Fold7’s expansive screen, editing your travel vlog is easier than ever. Use the upgraded Audio Eraser[4] to reduce the sound of the crowd’s background noise so your favourite member’s vocals shine.

Z Fold7: The Perfect Travel Companion

Galaxy Z Fold7 isn’t just another travel gadget — it’s the backstage pass, stylist, translator, map and editing tool that elevates your creativity to the next level. It’s no longer the smartphone era; welcome to the age of the AI sidekick. Skip the endless search bars and just talk. Unfold your phone, and half your trip is already handled. So go ahead, live your best wanderlust life. Galaxy Z Fold7’s got your back from take-off to touchdown.

[1] Samsung Account login and network connection required. A visible watermark is overlaid on the saved image to indicate it was generated by Galaxy AI. Accuracy of output is not guaranteed.

[2] Compatible with selected languages only. Google account login and network connection required. Google and Gemini are trademarks of Google LLC. Samsung account login is required for certain AI features.

[3] Samsung account login and network connection required.

[4] Samsung account login required. Six types of sound can be detected; voices, music, wind, nature, crowd and noise. Results may vary depending on audio source and condition of the video.