Google has introduced new features to enhance summer travel planning, leveraging its advanced artificial intelligence (AI). The tech company announced on Friday that its AI Mode can now assist users in determining the availability of specific items at local stores and allow tracking of individual hotel prices directly via Google Search.
With the latest AI Mode update, Google can contact nearby stores on behalf of users to find particular items. This feature initially launched in Google Search last November and is now expanding to AI Mode across the United States in the upcoming weeks.
Users can specify their needs, such as asking where to find clip-on polarized sunglasses if they forgot their prescription pair. Google will then gather the relevant information and send the results to the user.
While hotel price tracking was already available at a city level, the new update allows users to monitor prices for specific hotels of interest. On desktop, users can search for a hotel by name and activate a new price-tracking feature. On mobile, the option appears under the “Prices” tab after entering a search. Once activated, users will receive email alerts regarding any price changes for their selected dates.
Google’s announcement revealed that popular travel destinations for summer 2026 include St. Maarten, Stockholm, Kansas City, Missouri, and Sarasota, Florida. Additionally, it noted a significant rise in searches for terms like “AI travel assistant” and “AI concierge,” which have increased by 350% within the past year. Interest in queries about using AI to discover flight deals has also surged, with “AI flight booking” witnessing a growth of 315%.
As the features roll out, Google aims to streamline the travel planning process, meeting rising demand for AI-assisted services in the travel industry.
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