Artificial Intelligence Has Reached a Travel Tipping Point

For years now, the travel industry has dabbled with artificial intelligence (AI), seeking to unlock the promise of more efficient communications and greater customer service between travel suppliers, travel agents and consumers. So far, most of that potential has remained untapped, with only a handful of companies beginning to introduce AI to the booking process in a meaningful way. But recent investments and beta tests are finally starting to bear fruit. In San Jose, Calif., Casto Travel recently launched the text message-based "Marco," a mobile travel assistant powered by Mezi, a Silicon Valley startup. Marco was introduced for Casto's business travel clients and is already completing 60 percent of the current users' bookings without human intervention, said president and CEO Marc Casto.