Infographic: Travel Inspo: Insta & TikTok Beat AI

The possible applications of generative AI are practically limitless. Tools like ChatGPT can be used to craft emails, write code and solve all kinds of problems in a professional context. But they’re also very helpful for private use, for example when planning a vacation or a weekend getaway. AI tools can help you find a nice restaurant, a flight connection or plan the itinerary for an entire trip.

Like all applications for AI tools, their use as a personal travel assistant is still in its infancy and many people probably don’t even know what AI is capable of in the travel context. According to Deloitte’s 2024 summer travel survey, just 10 percent of Americans who plan a summer vacation this year plan to use AI tools for inspiration or information regarding their upcoming trips. AI use is most common among Millennials, where 17 percent of travelers have used ChatGPT or similar tools for trip planning.

While AI tools are rarely used by travelers looking for inspiration, the same cannot be said for short-form videos commonly found on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. Especially young people tend to get inspiration from such videos, as Deloitte’s survey shows. 44 percent of GenZ travelers use social media videos for travel inspiration, which is not a huge surprise considering the popularity of TikTok in this age group.