Planning a trip just got easier. Kayak has introduced AI Mode, a built-in travel assistant that lets you research and book flights, hotels, and rental cars simply by asking questions in natural language. Available now on both desktop and mobile web, the new experience uses the company’s integration with ChatGPT to deliver personalized, context-aware results.
AI Mode is the next step after the company’s earlier Kayak.ai test site, which served as a sandbox for experimenting with AI features. Those capabilities are now woven directly into Kayak’s main site, so you can move from inspiration to booking in one place.
What you can do with AI Mode:
– Ask for destination ideas based on budget, season, or vibe
– Find the best deals to a specific city and compare options across dates
– Filter for nonstop flights, preferred airlines, or specific times
– Compare hotel amenities and neighborhoods side by side
– Surface rental car options tailored to trip length or luggage needs
– Explore open-ended ideas like “I want to party for NYE—where should I go?”
– Learn the best time to fly based on typical ticket prices
This approach is especially helpful at the earliest stage of travel planning, when you’re still exploring possibilities and don’t have a fixed itinerary. Whether AI-driven inspiration will translate directly into bookings is an open question, but the tool is designed to streamline the path from discovery to checkout.
Availability starts with English in the United States, with additional countries and languages rolling out later this month. Kayak also plans to expand AI Mode to more platforms and add voice-based requests soon.
The travel industry is increasingly turning to AI to simplify what can be a complex and time-consuming booking process. OpenAI has recently partnered with major travel brands such as Expedia and Booking.com to bring travel apps into ChatGPT. By hosting its own AI chatbot experience, Kayak gains direct insight into what travelers are asking for—knowledge that can help refine recommendations, pricing insights, and the overall booking journey.
If you’re ready to try a smarter way to plan, start by asking:
– “Show me beach destinations under $400 round-trip in June.”
– “Find the cheapest weekend to visit Chicago in the next three months.”
– “Compare 4-star hotels with free breakfast near downtown Austin.”
– “Find nonstop flights from NYC to Paris in late September.”
– “I want a hiking-focused trip—where should I go this fall?”
– “Which dates are usually cheapest to fly to my destination?”
