Google’s AI Now Visualizes Your Dream Vacation
▼ Summary
– Google’s AI Mode in search now offers trip planning through its Canvas feature, generating itineraries with flight and hotel data based on user descriptions.
– Users can refine their AI-generated travel plans with follow-up requests, such as specifying hotel prices or activities, and access the feature on desktop in the US.
– The Canvas tool, initially a workspace for Gemini, has expanded to AI Mode in Search, integrating travel planning directly into Google’s search engine.
– Google is rolling out agentic booking for restaurants to all US users, enabling automated reservations through partners like OpenTable and Ticketmaster.
– Partnerships with major hotel and booking platforms will soon allow agentic booking for flights and hotels, while AI-powered Flight Deals is expanding globally.
Finding the perfect vacation just got a whole lot easier, thanks to a powerful new feature from Google. Now, when you describe your ideal getaway to the company’s AI Mode in search, you can choose the “Create with Canvas” option. This tool instantly builds a detailed itinerary in a side panel, complete with flight information, hotel data, and a full schedule. The generated document lays out potential plans based on your specific requests, even incorporating photos and reviews pulled directly from Google Maps.
You aren’t stuck with the first draft, either. The plan is fully customizable with follow-up questions or additional instructions. You can ask for hotel suggestions filtered by price and specific amenities, or request activities organized by travel time from your accommodation. For now, this travel planning feature is available to desktop users in the United States who have opted into the AI Mode through Google Labs. All the drafted itineraries are conveniently saved within the AI Mode’s history for easy access later.
The Canvas feature itself launched back in March as a dynamic workspace for Gemini, initially used to display real-time coding output or continuously updating study guides. It has since evolved into a core component of the AI Mode in Search. While Google first announced trip planning capabilities for Gemini last year, integrating them directly into the main search engine brings them to a vastly larger audience. This strategic move could pose a significant challenge to other travel companies like Kayak and Expedia, who are also racing to develop their own AI-powered tools.
Beyond just planning, Google is also expanding the types of reservations that can be made automatically through its AI. Labs users in the US have already been able to use the AI Mode’s agent to book event tickets and local appointments. Starting this week, the ability to agentically book restaurant reservations is rolling out to all users across the United States. The AI presents a list of curated options with direct links to finalize the booking through Google’s established partners, which include OpenTable, Resy, Tock, Ticketmaster, StubHub, and SeatGeek.
Looking ahead, Google has confirmed partnerships with major hotel companies and online booking platforms like Booking.com, Expedia, Marriott International, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. The goal is to eventually roll out agentic booking for flights and hotels as well. In a related expansion, the company’s AI-powered Flight Deals search within Google Flights is being rolled out worldwide. Previously available in the US, Canada, and India, this feature is now expanding to over 200 countries and territories with support for more than 60 languages.
(Source: The Verge)
