During my bachelor’s exchange in Hong Kong, China, I had the opportunity to go for a ten-day trip to Japan, visiting Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo with four more friends. Since I generally really enjoy planning things in my everyday life, I decided to approach this trip with a similar mindset. Normally, I spent multiple hours with scrolling through different websites and travel platforms. However, this time I decided to try something completely new: I asked ChatGPT to plan our whole trip. Within this blog I not only want to share my experiences during my time in Japan but also reflect on how Generative AI changed my overall travelling impressions.
I was born and raised in Germany, indicating my knowledge about Japan and its culture was very little. Therefore, I just asked ChatGPT to schedule my trip and consider the arrival dates, the most famous sights and some local restaurants within each city. Within just a few seconds, the Generative AI created a detailed ten-day schedule, which included not only sightseeing highlights but also train connections and potential hotel stays. When I shared this plan with my friends, we were all amazed what ChatGPT is capable of. Furthermore, we felt more comfortable as we did not really have a created a schedule before and we were flying the next day.
During the trip we completely followed the agenda given from ChatGPT, which indeed turned out to be helpful. Especially in Tokyo, one of the world’s largest cities, we knew exactly which train line to take and which sights we wanted to see. Therefore, our schedule gave as the feeling of maximizing our travelling experience in terms of the limited number of time we had.
Looking back, I realized that Generative AI not only optimized our trip but also significantly shaped the way we experienced Japan. On the one hand, it gave us structure and efficiency, as discussed before. On the other hand, it also introduced some unintended consequences we have not thought of. First, ChatGPT tended to prioritize the most famous attractions of each city, which often turned out to be overcrowded by tourists rather than authentic. Moreover, I also noticed that not all information were accurate. Opening hours of restaurants often slightly differed from what we expected based on ChatGPT.
Reflecting on the overall experience, I now have a different perspective on using Generative AI for planning my trips, specifically when referring to the downsides mentioned.
But what does this decision indicate beyond travelling? Can Generative AI shape our future everyday activities and guides us through our everyday life? According to Shi (2024), tools such as ChatGPT can indeed handle complex tasks, save time and guide us through complex problems within our professional and everyday life. For example, recently Generative AI passed the hardest examination for Chartered Financial Analyst within only minutes.
However, I do believe that that creativity and emotions are essential factors to consider when making choices or exercising activities. Especially, the Japan trip illustrated this contrast very clearly: AI can give people orientation and guidance, but in my case also reduced the overall experience to a simple travel checklist. This highlights the fact that emotions and creativity, are the essence of human experience, in general, and stay beyond the reach of Generative AI.
Consequently, when planning my next trip, I would be willing to invest more time to plan activities myself and leave space for moments, where I do not really have a plan what to do next. I do believe that these moments are often times where the most memorable stories actually begin.
Would you be willing to travel only with the information given by Generative AI tools. I am excited to read your thoughts and comments on this post. Please feel free to reach out if there are any questions!
Sources
Advisor, W. (2025, September 25). A new study finds AI can pass financial analyst exam in minutes. The Wealth Advisor. https://www.thewealthadvisor.com/article/new-study-finds-ai-can-pass-financial-analyst-exam-minutes
Shi, D. (2024). Use ChatGPT to maximize everyday efficiency. Naturalis Scientias. http://naturalisscientias.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ns2024010106.pdf
This is a fantastic article! The way you balanced your reflection on how Generative AI impacted your travel experience is insightful and relatable. I especially like the addition of the personal touch you brought to the story, showing how AI could both enhance and potentially limit the experience of travel. It’s true that AI can be incredibly efficient in optimizing tasks like itinerary planning. However, as you mentioned, it can sometimes fall short in capturing the emotional and spontaneous aspects of travel that make the journey so special.
I also really liked how you acknowledged both the benefits and the drawbacks of using AI, which gives the general readers a balanced perspective. The point about AI guiding you through the famous tourist spots, but missing out on the authentic, hidden gems, is something I can relate to, especially when you’re in a situation where you feel like you’re just ticking boxes on a checklist rather than immersing yourself in a new culture.
Your conclusion really resonated with me, as it’s so easy to rely on technology for everything nowadays. The idea of leaving room for those unplanned, down-to-earth moments is something we often overlook. I think your experience highlights a broader conversation about how technology can support, but should not replace, human creativity and intuition.
Overall, a great read that blends travel experiences with the larger role of AI in our lives! Looking forward to seeing other people’s thoughts on this topic!