I Asked AI to Help Me Travel More Sustainably. Here's What Happened

In an effort to travel more sustainably, the author experimented with using AI chatbots to plan travel itineraries. They designed two different travel scenarios and asked the chatbots to plan the trips in a way that would minimize the environmental impact. The chatbots provided detailed itineraries, including suggestions for transportation, accommodation, and activities. They prioritized options like public transportation, eco-friendly hotels, and local experiences over more carbon-intensive alternatives. The author found that the AI-generated plans were generally more sustainable than what they would have booked themselves. However, they also noted that the chatbots sometimes lacked nuance and missed certain sustainability factors. Overall, the experiment demonstrated the potential for AI to assist in planning more environmentally conscious travel. However, the author emphasized the importance of human judgment and the need to carefully evaluate the chatbots' recommendations to ensure the most sustainable outcomes.