I asked Instinct to plan 2 trips for me — and it sucked all the joy out of traveling (www.businessinsider.com)

The recent experience of using Instinct, an AI travel planning agent, revealed both the potential and limitations of AI in enhancing travel experiences. While the agent efficiently generated detailed travel plans—saving time compared to manual searches—its performance varied significantly based on the trip's context. For a structured business trip, Instinct was helpful, creating a comprehensive plan quickly and correcting some errors in flight bookings. However, for a more exploratory European vacation, the process felt drawn out and uninspiring, highlighting how AI can sometimes overshadow the joy of personal discovery in travel. This experience underscores a crucial realization within the AI/ML community: while AI agents can streamline logistical tasks and improve efficiency, they may falter when it comes to providing the creative inspiration and excitement that often accompany personal travel planning. The contrast in the AI's performance between the two types of trips suggests that while AI could be a useful tool for straightforward tasks requiring precision, it risks diminishing the emotional engagement in more open-ended, exploratory contexts. As such, travelers may still prefer traditional methods for planning personal adventures, valuing the joy of personal input and spontaneous discovery over an AI's calculated recommendations.