by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 4:45 PM ET, Thu October 16, 2025
AI continues to make inroads in all areas of daily life, particularly when it comes to travel research and planning.
The latest development? KAYAK has just unveiled a new feature called "AI Mode” on its platform that allows users to plan complete trips simply by using “natural-language search.”
Translation: Just use plain language and tell the platform what you’re looking for (via typing your question into a search box) and the platform will respond in plain language.
Meaning, it’s almost like you’re having a human conversation with the KAYAK booking platform.
“We launched KAYAK.ai in April for our software engineers to test cutting-edge AI capabilities. AI Mode is the first feature to graduate to our main site,” Steve Hafner, KAYAK CEO, said. “Travelers aren’t limited to preset entry fields anymore. Just tell us what you’re looking for in plain language, and we’ll answer the same way.”
Still, not totally clear on what it all means and how it works? Here’s a breakdown on how to use KAYAK’s new AI Mode:
- Click the “AI Mode” icon on KAYAK from your desktop or mobile browser to get started.
- Type travel-related questions the way you’d say them to another person. (For instance: “How much is it to fly to Hong Kong and back in December?”)
- Get real-time results as KAYAK compares the latest information and prices from hundreds of travel providers.
Whether we're ready or not, AI is here to stay. According to a series of reports from the World Travel & Tourism Council, AI is poised to shape the shape the future of travel and tourism.
"AI is not just a technological advancement; it is a strategic tool that
can personalise customer experiences, drive sustainable improvements,
and shape the future of travel and tourism," WTTC President and CEO Julia Simpson, has said of AI.
According to WTTC, AI has the power to revolutionize how businesses in
the travel and tourism sector operate, offering immense opportunities
for growth and innovation.
To help the AI-curious get started, KAYAK is has created a few holiday-themed prompts designed surrounding sample trip ideas such as “NYC hotels within a half mile of Rockefeller Center for one night, Dec. 23rd,” and “Cheapest Caribbean destinations for a 7-day trip."
Need more tips on writing the best travel prompts? KAYAK has also posted a blog with more tips here.
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