New on-site chatbot feature helps users search, compare, and book trips with conversational AI, aiming to ease the complexities of travel planning
AI Comes to the Core Kayak Experience
Kayak has introduced “AI Mode,” a new feature that lets users ask travel questions, explore destinations, and book flights, hotels, and rental cars — all through a built-in AI chatbot on its website.
- This feature is now live on both desktop and mobile web in the U.S.
- It’s built on ChatGPT technology, enabling contextual, real-time responses.
AI Mode moves beyond Kayak’s earlier experiment, Kayak.ai, by integrating the functionality directly into Kayak.com, making it part of the mainstream booking flow.
Planning Travel With a Conversation
Rather than clicking through menus, users can chat with the AI to get personalized travel suggestions.
- Ask open-ended questions like “Where can I go for NYE to party?”
- Request recommendations under a budget, compare hotel amenities, or look for nonstop flights.
The chatbot is designed to assist in the early discovery phase of trip planning, providing users with inspiration and options before they’re ready to book.
A Strategic AI Rollout
Kayak’s AI Mode initially supports English in the U.S., with plans to expand to other languages and regions later this month.
- The company will also add voice-based input, improving accessibility across devices.
- This hands-on integration allows Kayak to gather direct consumer insights into AI usage, unlike partners operating within ChatGPT’s app ecosystem.
Booking Holdings Pushes AI Across Its Brands
Kayak’s move follows a broader trend within its parent company, Booking Holdings, which also owns Booking.com and Priceline.
- Expedia and Booking.com now function as apps inside ChatGPT, part of OpenAI’s effort to streamline online travel booking.
- Kayak, by contrast, is keeping the AI experience on its own site, giving it more control over user data and experience.
Is Conversational Travel Planning the Future?
Online travel booking has long been seen as frustrating and fragmented — with endless tabs, filters, and confusing pricing. AI promises to reduce that friction by offering a single, conversational interface.
- The question remains: Will users trust AI enough to complete bookings, or will it just be used for research?
- If adoption is strong, Kayak could redefine the user journey from inspiration to purchase, entirely through conversation.
