Google Expands AI-Powered Travel Tools Globally with Canvas Planning and Enhanced Booking Features

Google rolls out its AI 'Flight Deals' tool globally, adds new travel features in Search | TechCrunch

Google is rolling out new AI-powered features to book and plan travel in Search, the company announced on Monday. The tech giant is expanding availability for its AI-powered "Flight Deals" tool, adding the ability for users to organize travel plans with its "Canvas" tool in AI Mode, and launching agentic booking capabilities to more people. Google first launched Flight Deals back in August in the U.S., Canada, and India. Now, the company is expanding the AI-powered search tool within Google Flights globally to help people quickly find affordable destinations. To get started, users need to describe where, when, and how they want to travel. Flight Deals will then use AI to display the best bargains available. Flight Deals is now rolling out to more than 200 countries and territories worldwide, including the U.K., France, Germany, Mexico, Brazil, Indonesia, Japan, and Korea. The tool is also getting support for more than 60 languages. As for the new AI Mode features, Google says users can now use the built-in Canvas tool to create travel plans. Canvas, which first launched as a way to build study plans and organize information over multiple sessions in a side panel, can now help users plan their upcoming trips. Users need to tell AI mode what type of trip they're looking for and then select the "Create with Canvas" option. "Right away, you'll get a plan in the Canvas side panel that brings together real-time Search data for flights and hotels, details from Google Maps like photos and reviews and relevant information from sites across the web," Google explained in a blog post. "You'll find suggestions that fit your criteria, like hotel comparisons based on pricing and amenities or ideas for restaurants and activities optimized by travel time from where you're staying." Users can then ask follow-up questions and get help with tradeoffs, like choosing a hotel that's closer to a brunch place you want to try but a bit further from the hiking trails you want to explore. Travel planning with Canvas is available on desktop in the U.S. for users who are opted into the AI Mode experiment in Labs. Additionally, Google announced that it's bringing AI Mode's agentic capabilities to more people. Earlier this year, Google announced that users who were opted into Labs could now get help with booking restaurant reservations, event tickets, and beauty and wellness appointments in AI Mode. Now, the company is making this capability available to all U.S. users. Users can request dinner reservations based on multiple preferences, such as party size, date, time, location, and preferred cuisine. AI Mode will then search across different reservation platforms to find real-time availability for restaurants that match the inquiry. It then surfaces a curated list of options to choose from. In the future, Google says it will make it possible to finish booking flights and hotels directly in AI Mode. Users will be able to describe what they're looking for and then compare different flights or hotels and browse information like schedules, prices, room photos, amenities, and reviews.

Google's New AI Travel Features Whip Up Itineraries, Flight Deals

Expertise Phones |Texting apps | iOS | Android | Smartwatches | Fitness trackers | Mobile accessories | Gaming phones | Budget phones | Toys | Star Wars | Marvel | Power Rangers | DC | Mobile accessibility | iMessage | WhatsApp | Signal | RCS Google's new set of AI features aims to help you create an entire vacation plan, including finding flight deals and booking dinner reservations, too. In a Monday blog post, Google is featuring a travel-focused expansion of its Canvas planning tool, which is already capable of compiling information for planning purposes. After inputting a rough idea for a vacation, Canvas can take that and create a suggested itinerary around the ideas you're giving it. During a demonstration of the feature, I asked a Google representative to use the Canvas feature to build a five-day vacation in Tokyo centered on visiting restaurants that served ramen and pizza. After inputting that request into Google's AI Mode, the Canvas feature activated and proceeded to make a visual day-by-day suggestion of different restaurants that specialize in both, and how to visit them. Just to make it more interesting, I asked the representative to then ask the AI feature to include the locations of several tourist-friendly gyms -- for the health of it. Canvas then regenerated the plans to add that suggestion accordingly. These travel-related enhancements to Canvas will first launch as a Google Labs feature while it continues development, but plans made through it can be shared with others to view. However, Canvas, as it currently functions, doesn't allow for others to further adjust and refine, so for now, you'll likely still need to use a shared Google Doc when collaborating on travel plans. Google's also adding a Flight Deals feature that will research and find flights based on your text prompts. During our demo, we asked for round-trip flights from New York to France for any time in March over a five-day period, and the search proceeded to find a variety of flights that met those criteria. Google's AI Mode is also adding the ability to find restaurants and book dinner reservations, largely pulling from restaurants that are already integrated into services like Google Maps. During my demo, I asked a Google rep to find casual Taiwanese restaurants in New York City for dinner that night. While the feature did find such a restaurant, it wasn't available to book a reservation. In addition to listing a restaurant that met what I was looking for, the search also offered a higher-end restaurant that included support for booking a reservation. Don't miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source. Several of these features are ones that Google has long featured in its traditional search products, but are now being slightly reconfigured for access from its AI Mode and Gemini assistant. Other AI assistants, like ChatGPT, have already been capable of creating travel ideas. However, since Google already offers several travel and appointment-booking services, the AI Mode is now organizing these services into results for added convenience. Google's travel features also face competition from a number of other AI-based travel services, such as the Going app for flight travel, an AI trip planner from Booking.com and even an AI travel planner that creates trips based on how you describe your feelings.

Google's AI Mode can now help you visualize your travel plans

Google users can now describe their next trip to its AI Mode in search and select the option to "Create with Canvas," which will build out an itinerary in a side panel complete with data on flights and hotels. The document it puts together can lay out potential plans, with suggestions based on the user's inputs, as well as photos and reviews from Google Maps. You can refine the plan it develops with follow-up questions or additional requests, like requesting hotel suggestions based on pricing and amenities or activities based on travel time. Users in the US will now have access to travel planning with Canvas on desktop if they've opted into AI Mode in Labs, with the drafted plans stored in the AI Mode's history. The Canvas feature launched in March as a dynamic workspace for Gemini that could display real-time coding output or other information, like continuously-updating study plans, and has since expanded to become a part of AI Mode in Search. Google announced trip planning features for Gemini last year, but this pulls them closer to all of the people who use its search engine, which probably isn't good news for other travel companies like Kayak and Expedia, which are also building their own AI-powered features. Google is also expanding the types of activities that can be agentically booked with AI Mode. Labs users in the US can already use AI Mode's agent for bot-automated booking of event tickets and local appointments, and beginning this week, agentic booking of restaurants is rolling out to all US users, not just Labs users. AI Mode shows you a list of options with links to finalize booking through Google's partners, such as OpenTable, Resy, Tock, Ticketmaster, StubHub, SeatGeek, among others. Google says it's also partnering with hotel companies and online booking platforms including Booking.com, Expedia, Marriott International, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts to eventually roll out agentic booking for flights and hotels too. Google is also announcing an expansion to its AI-powered Flight Deals search within Google Flights, which is already available to users in the US, Canada, and India. The worldwide rollout to over 200 countries and territories with support for more than 60 languages has already begun, Google says.

Google expands AI Mode's flight and event booking features

Google has introduced some new tools in AI Mode alongside the expansion of others. The beta for Flight Deals, the AI-powered search tool that operates within Google Flights, is expanding globally. The tool works to find the best deals on flights in response to natural-language prompts from the user. The company is also expanding AI Mode's agentic capabilities to more users across the US, helping to book restaurants, event tickets and beauty or wellness appointments. The search giant is also adding a new feature to AI Mode called Canvas. This tool offers an organized space for users to build plans or projects. It can also help plan trips. Within the Canvas environment, users can describe the kind of trip they want to book, and the various tools will suggest destinations, hotels and bookings. Last week, Google also added a host of new AI-powered shopping features, including an agentic checkout that helps find and buy an item at a specific price. Shoppers can have Google track the price of an item and give the AI permission to purchase it once it hits the desired discount.

Google's AI Mode wants to make custom travel planning cheaper and easier

Meanwhile, Google is also expanding its AI-powered flights tool, called Flight Deals, globally. Google is continually improving the AI-powered Search experience to make it one of the few apps you use, whether for homework, shopping, or everyday searching. Earlier this month, we learned that the AI Mode in Search is getting better at helping you choose the proper attire for the upcoming holiday season. Now, Google is adding more features that will simplify planning your vacation. In July, Google introduced Gemini's Canvas feature to AI Mode in Search. This update was primarily aimed at helping students study more effectively, where the Canvas would allow them to seek detailed responses on specific aspects of the initial result. Now, Canvas in AI Mode is being expanded to help travelers make better itineraries. Using Canvas while planning your vacation will now allow you to access information about flight and hotel prices, letting you choose based on your budget, preferences for services, or even the cuisines served in the restaurants. Additionally, AI Mode will scan through talking points in Google Maps reviews for various destinations, helping you decide whether to include them in your agenda. And if you want to refine your plans further, you can use Canvas to ask specific questions about a specific property or a destination, or ask questions about destinations closer to the hotel. In addition to Canvas support for travel plans, Google is also expanding its recently-launched Gemini-powered flight booking tool, Flight Deals, globally. It was announced for the US, Canada, and India in August, and is now available to travelers worldwide. With Flight Deals, you can share a vague (or detailed) prompt to help find potential getaways, with the primary objective of saving money. Based on your description, the tool offers several options, allowing you to select the one that best suits your budget. Clicking these options redirects you to results on Google Flights, with details pre-filled based on your query. Unlike Flight Deals, Canvas for travel planning in AI Mode is currently available only to folks in the US, and you must first enable the experiment in Labs to use it. It is currently only available on the web interface for AI Mode, with no information available about its availability on mobile devices. Lastly, Google is also expanding agentic features beyond restaurant and concert bookings, or appointment hunting. With the latest update, AI Mode will also be able to search and book hotels for you with minimal intervention.

Google wants your next vacation to be built, budgeted, and booked in Search

Google's already rolled out AI-powered functionality to help you secure the perfect gift for your loved ones this holiday season. Hard on the heels, the Mountain View, California-based tech giant now wants to give you new ways to plan your holiday travels with AI in Search. Google is rolling out three new upgrades divided between Search's AI Mode and Google Flights. The latter gets only one of the three major upgrades, so let's go through it first! Find airfare bargains with AI-powered Flight Deals Now in more countries Google launched Flight Deals, an AI-powered flight search solution, back in August this year. The tool aims to make the process of securing flight tickets a little less daunting, primarily by allowing users to put forward their ticket needs in a conversational manner. So instead of manually filling out information like travel cities, general dates, and akin, you simply type in prompts like "Week-long trip this winter to a city with great food, nonstop only," or "I want to see cherry blossoms in Japan within the next 4 weeks." Up until now, Flight Deals has been exclusive to the US and Canada. Today, Flight Deals has started rolling out to more than 200 countries and territories worldwide, "including the U.K., France, Germany, Mexico, Brazil, Indonesia, Japan and Korea, along with support for more than 60 languages." Build your travel plans with Canvas in AI Mode Search's AI Mode gained 'Canvas' back in July this year, which is essentially a dynamic side panel for you to organize important plans and projects. It retains information, allowing you time to pick up where you left off in subsequent sessions, and add to your plans as you go. According to Google, you can now use Canvas to build and refine travel plans that are customized for your needs. You can tell AI Mode about the type of trip you're planning to go on and the recommendations you're looking for, and then tap Create with Canvas. Help me plan a girl's trip to Phoenix with 3 friends -- Marach 6-9, we want to be in an area walkable to nightlife. We want to go on a couple of different hikes, try some good brunch places, and find some thrift or antique shops. Once created, the Canvas will highlight all relevant real-time information, including flights, hotels, photos, reviews, and other helpful information from sites across the web. Travel planning support in Canvas is available now to desktop users in the US with the AI Mode experiment enabled in Labs. More agentic help is on the way Soon after rolling out AI-powered help to check whether a product that you're looking for is in stock nearby or not, Google is rolling out the ability to turn plans into proper bookings with agentic AI. Google's AI Mode can now register your conversational restaurant reservation queries and "search across multiple reservation platforms and websites to find real-time availability for options that meet your criteria." So, for example, you should be able to add a prompt like "find me a dinner reservation in Little Havana next Saturday for 5 people with local cuban food and live music," and the AI tool should be able to give you a rundown of some of the best matches, complete with reservation integration with partners like OpenTable, Resy, Tock, Ticketmaster, StubHub, SeatGeek, Vivid Seats, Booksy, Fresha and Vagaro. Agentic booking for restaurants is rolling out in the US this week. The tech giant added that in the future, it will be possible to finish booking flights and even hotels, directly in AI Mode. When, though, is currently unclear. Google Google LLC TOOLS Price: Free 4.1 Download

Google AI Mode will help you create travel plans, agentic booking launches

After adding shopping features last week, Google is now upgrading AI Mode's travel capabilities with Canvas. AI Mode introduced Canvas earlier this year to help with creation and organization prompts. Google is now using this side panel for travel planning. When you "tell AI Mode what type of trip you're planning and the recommendations you're looking for," a "Create with Canvas" button will appear. Canvas will show flights and hotels, as well as photos and reviews from Google Maps. You'll also get "relevant information from sites across the web." You'll find suggestions that fit your criteria, like hotel comparisons based on pricing and amenities or ideas for restaurants and activities optimized by travel time from where you're staying. As always, you can customize the plan by asking follow-up questions. Your Canvas can be accessed again from AI Mode history. This is available on desktop web in the US if you have the AI Mode experiment enabled. The other announcement today is the launch of AI Mode's agentic capabilities that leverage Project Mariner. Specify what you're looking for and other requirements in the prompt to have AI Mode "search across multiple reservation platforms and websites to find real-time availability for options that meet your criteria." You can select from partners like: OpenTable, Resy, Tock, Ticketmaster, StubHub, SeatGeek, Vivid Seats, Booksy, Fresha, and Vagaro. Agentic restaurant booking is rolling out this week in the US without needing to join the lab after the August preview. However, you can enroll now to access event tickets and local (beauty + wellness) appointments. Google shared today that it wants to add flight booking and hotel reservations directly to AI Mode "in the future." We're working now with industry partners to build an experience where you can simply describe what you're looking for to compare different flights or hotels and browse helpful information like schedules, prices, room photos, amenities and reviews. You'll be able to follow up and refine your options, and then once you're ready, you can quickly complete the booking with the partner of your choice. The final announcement today is a global expansion of Flight Deals to "more than 200 countries and territories worldwide, including the U.K., France, Germany, Mexico, Brazil, Indonesia, Japan and Korea, along with support for more than 60 languages." Available in Google Flights, this is an AI-powered search tool where you just say "when and how you'd like to travel" to get deals.

Planning a trip? These 3 new Google AI tools could save you a lot of time and money

Agentic booking will reserve restaurants, tickets, and appointments directly from Search, with flights and hotels coming soon If you've ever tried planning a vacation and found yourself drowning in tabs, Google has some news that might make your holidays a little less chaotic. Or at least reduce the tab clutter. Google rolled out a trio of travel upgrades powered by its AI Mode in Search. The features aim to ease the most annoying parts of travel planning: comparing too many options, flipping between booking sites, and trying to figure out where to stay, eat, and what to do in between eating and sleeping. The new tools include smarter itinerary building with Canvas, global expansion of its AI-powered Flight Deals search, and expanded agentic booking capabilities. The biggest change is thanks to the new Canvas for Travel within AI Mode, designed to help you plan a journey. It helps build custom itineraries based on requests as simple or detailed as "I want to take a five-day trip to Austin with my family next spring and get in some good barbecue and live music not too far from the hotel." The AI will immediately start assembling a plan inside Canvas. The plan that pops up pulls together real-time data from Google Flights and Hotels, reviews and photos from Google Maps, and curated info from across the web. You'll get options, suggestions, and comparisons, like which hotel has better reviews for its breakfast versus which one has the pool your kids will actually use. And it's not a static spreadsheet either. Canvas is interactive, so you can nudge it toward better brunch spots, make tradeoffs based on location, or ask the AI to update your plans if your flight dates shift. And the AI in Flight Deals could reduce the cost of your trip. After testing in the U.S., Canada, and India, Flight Deals is now global in over 200 countries and supports more than 60 languages. The idea is that you don't need to know exactly where or when you want to go. Just type something like "cheap flights for a long weekend from New York in February" or "someplace warm with beaches and good food," and Flight Deals will generate a list of destinations that fit based on affordability, timing, and traveler preferences. It's the expanded agentic AI for bookings that really grabs attention, however. Google has now extended agentic booking capabilities to more U.S. users in AI Mode, starting with restaurants. You describe what you want, and it goes to work, searching across OpenTable, Resy, and Tock to find real-time availability that fits your request, and offering a short list with booking links ready to go. For U.S. Labs users, that same magic is also available for event tickets and local appointments. You can now start a plan with a single sentence instead of seven browser tabs and a phone call. Booking for flights and hotels isn't ready yet, but Google says it's coming, as shown in the demo below. The company is already collaborating with major travel partners like Expedia, Marriott, Booking.com, and Wyndham to build out direct booking through AI Mode in the near future. In theory, this could create a seamless loop where your vague desire for "a sunny, relaxing getaway in early March" becomes a full itinerary, complete with flights, a hotel near the best-rated tacos, an afternoon spa appointment, and a reservation for sunset cocktails, all without ever leaving the search bar. The usual concerns about bias and privacy are, as always, left only vaguely addressed by Google. But for now at least, Google's pitch isn't about replacing human judgment, just saving people time. There are also practical implications for how we decide where to go and what to do. On the positive side, AI nudging us toward more affordable flights and recommending off-the-radar experiences is a nice way to expand people's horizons. Then again, too many people might just ruin those vistas. Whether it changes the future of travel remains to be seen. But if it means one less argument over who forgot to book the hotel, it might be worth letting AI navigate or even take the wheel for part of the journey.

New tools to find cheap flight deals, plan itineraries, and book travel with Google

The features are available now in AI Mode with Canvas and Google Flights. Whether you're the planner of a group and are regularly tasked with coordinating flights, hotels, and restaurant options for friends or you're simply looking to find airfare bargains to book a quick getaway, Google has new AI travel tools to make it easier than ever. On Monday, Google announced three key features new to AI Mode within Canvas and Google Flights to help users build and organize itineraries with research-backed insights, turn those plans into tangible bookings, and, of course, score the best flight or hotel for your buck. Build travel plans with Canvas in Google AI Mode This tool gives users a space to organize plans over time, customized to their specific needs. Once in AI Mode, users can share what type of trip they're planning and the types of recommendations they need, then select the option to "Create with Canvas." A plan will appear in the Canvas side panel with real-time search data for those needs, be it flights and hotels, details from Google Maps like photos and reviews, or other relevant information from various websites. The suggestions will fit the preset criteria, can compare hotels based on price or amenities, and offer ideas for nearby dining or other activities, optimized by travel time based on that location. Users can then ask follow-up questions and discuss any tradeoffs or changes. Plus, you can pause and jump back in any time to edit through AI Mode history, set in the menu on the top-left of the screen. Travel planning with Canvas is now available on desktop in the U.S. for those opted into the AI Mode experiment in Labs. Turn plans into bookings with agentic AI AI Mode's agentic capabilities can take the hassle out of booking restaurants, event tickets or service appointments. Users can tell AI Mode what they're looking for and it searches across websites and reservation platforms to find available time slots that meet the criteria, with direct links to choose from and complete the booking through partners like OpenTable, Resy, Tock, Ticketmaster, StubHub, SeatGeek, Vivid Seats, Booksy, Fresha and Vagaro. Agentic booking for restaurants is now available on AI Mode in the U.S., while event tickets and local appointments booking is available to U.S. users who first opt in to Labs. Find the best airfare prices with Flight Deals This tool is perfect for flexible travelers who want to find an affordable destination and save money on their next trip. The newly introduced Flight Deals, an AI-powered search tool, is being beta tested within Google Flights and expanded globally on Monday, supporting more than 60 languages. Users describe where, when, and how they like to travel, and Flight Deals uses the AI to show the best destination prices available.