Kayak has introduced a new “AI Mode” feature that enables travelers to research, plan, and book trips using artificial intelligence directly on its website. The update allows users to ask travel-related questions, compare flights, hotels, and car rentals, and receive personalized recommendations through an AI chatbot. The feature is now live on both desktop and mobile web, marking a significant step in the company’s efforts to make travel discovery more conversational and intuitive.
Built in collaboration with ChatGPT, Kayak’s new AI Mode delivers contextual and intelligent search results based on user queries. It builds upon the company’s earlier experiment, Kayak.ai, which launched in April as a testing platform to explore how AI could enhance travel planning. While Kayak.ai operated as a standalone experimental site combining the company’s data and OpenAI’s technology, the new AI Mode brings those capabilities directly into the main Kayak.com platform for wider accessibility.
According to the company, travelers can use the AI chatbot to find flight deals, compare hotel amenities, explore rental car options, and identify destinations within a specific budget range. They can also ask open-ended prompts such as “I want to party for NYE — where should I go?” or inquire about the best time to fly somewhere based on ticket prices. Kayak has even shared additional AI prompt suggestions on its blog to help users explore the feature’s full potential.
The AI Mode is especially designed for travelers in the early planning stages, helping them gather ideas and inspiration before finalizing bookings. While the company expects this to enhance engagement and streamline decision-making, it remains to be seen whether AI-assisted browsing will translate into higher booking conversions.
Currently, the AI Mode is available in English for U.S. users, with plans to expand globally and support more languages later this month. Kayak also intends to roll out the feature across more platforms and add voice-based search functionality in the near future.
The move underscores the travel industry’s growing interest in AI, as companies look to simplify and personalize the booking process. OpenAI has recently partnered with major travel platforms like Expedia and Booking.com (Kayak’s parent company) to integrate their services within ChatGPT. In contrast, Kayak’s choice to host its AI chatbot on its own website gives it a strategic advantage — providing direct insights into user behavior and preferences as AI reshapes the future of online travel planning.
