ChatGPT, Generative AI, and the future of business travel
Since early 2023, ChatGPT has dominated the conversation in technology. Many have described this new AI tool as a “seismic shift” and “the biggest thing since the Internet.”
To demonstrate the capability of ChatGPT, most of this article was generated by ChatGPT. All sections that were AI generated are noted as such.
Is the AI-generated content perfectly composed, detail-rich, and ultra-nuanced? No. Is it simple to understand and surprisingly accurate? Absolutely.
There’s no doubt that generative AI tools such as ChatGPT will have significant impacts on how business gets done, how we communicate, and even society at large.
Let’s jump in and start with the basics.
Every good article begins with some background, so we we’ll start with this prompt which we entered ChatGPT:
Prompt #1: What is generative AI and ChatGPT? How do they work? And how might it reshape business?
Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence that is designed to generate content, such as text, images, or music, that is original and not based on pre-existing templates. Generative AI works by analyzing large amounts of data and identifying patterns in that data that can be used to generate new content.
ChatGPT, specifically, is a generative language model developed by OpenAI. It is trained on a massive dataset of text and can generate new text based on a given prompt or context. ChatGPT works by analyzing the patterns in the text it has been trained on and using those patterns to generate new text that is coherent and relevant to the given prompt.
The potential impact of generative AI and ChatGPT on businesses is significant. Here are a few examples of how they could reshape business:
Personalization: Generative AI can be used to personalize customer experiences, such as recommending products or services that are relevant to a customer’s preferences or past behavior. ChatGPT can generate personalized responses to customer inquiries, improving customer satisfaction.
Automation: Generative AI can automate many routine tasks, such as data entry or customer service inquiries. This can save businesses time and money and improve efficiency.
Innovation: Generative AI can be used to generate new ideas and solutions to complex problems. ChatGPT can generate new insights and perspectives on business issues, helping businesses to innovate and stay ahead of the competition.
Decision making: Generative AI can provide businesses with insights and recommendations based on data analysis. ChatGPT can generate reports or summaries that provide decision makers with the information they need to make informed decisions.
Overall, generative AI and ChatGPT have the potential to transform the way businesses operate, improving efficiency, personalization, and innovation.
Prompt # 2: How could ChatGTP and generative AI change business travel management?
ChatGPT and other generative AI technologies have the potential to significantly change the way business travel management is handled. Here are a few possible ways in which this could happen:
Personalized trip planning: With the help of generative AI, business travelers could receive personalized trip recommendations based on their preferences and past travel history. ChatGPT could assist with booking flights, hotels, rental cars, and other travel services that meet the traveler’s specific needs and budget.
Automated travel policy compliance: Many companies have strict travel policies that employees must follow when booking travel. Generative AI could help automate the compliance process, ensuring that all bookings fall within the company’s guidelines. ChatGPT could provide instant feedback on whether a proposed trip meets the policy criteria, and if not, suggest alternative options.
Real-time travel assistance: ChatGPT could provide real-time assistance to travelers while they are on the road. For example, if a flight is delayed or canceled, ChatGPT could help the traveler find alternative flights or hotels. Additionally, ChatGPT could provide real-time updates on weather conditions, traffic delays, and other relevant information that could impact travel plans.
Cost savings: By using generative AI to optimize travel bookings, companies could potentially save money on travel expenses. ChatGPT could help identify the most cost-effective flights, hotels, and rental cars, and also suggest ways to bundle services together to save money.
Overall, generative AI has the potential to streamline and optimize the business travel management process, making it more efficient, cost-effective, and personalized.
How Much Does ChatGPT Know About NDC? A lot, actually.
Given that NDC and airline retailing are very hot topics now, we threw a three, increasingly sophisticated prompts at ChatGPT around that subject.
- First, we asked ChatGPT to ‘draft a memo for a travel manager to describe what NDC means to corporate travelers.’
- Our second prompt was ‘Draft a strategy document for a corporation and its TMC to prepare for the transition to NDC.
- And finally, we asked ChatGPT to ‘draft a debate about NDC between three parties. 1) an airline executive who is pro-NDC 2) a travel manager who is skeptical of NDC and 3) a GDS executive who is against NDC.’
Prompt #3: Draft a communications strategy for a travel manager to describe what NDC means to corporate travelers.
Sure! Here’s a draft of a communications strategy that a travel manager could use to explain NDC to corporate travelers:
Dear Corporate Travelers,
As your travel manager, I want to make sure you are aware of a new development in the travel industry that may impact your future bookings: the implementation of the New Distribution Capability (NDC) standard.
NDC is a new technology standard that allows airlines to provide more detailed and personalized information about their fares and services to travel agents and travel management companies. This means that when you book a flight, you may see more options and ancillary services, such as seat upgrades, priority boarding, and lounge access.
NDC also allows for more efficient and accurate booking processes, which can save time and reduce the likelihood of errors or discrepancies in your travel arrangements. Additionally, NDC enables airlines to offer exclusive deals and promotions directly to travelers, which can help you save money on your bookings.
As your travel manager, I am committed to ensuring that you have access to the best and most cost-effective travel options available. With the implementation of NDC, we will have access to a wider range of airline content and services, allowing us to find the best deals and options for your business travel needs.
I understand that change can be intimidating, but I want to assure you that I am here to help you navigate this transition. If you have any questions or concerns about NDC or how it may impact your travel arrangements, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter, and happy travels!
