Commentary: AI travel agents? Bring them on
CNA
Some users may be reluctant to increase their dependence on Big Tech firms, but a radically different future could be possible given fast-changing AI models, says John Thornhill for Financial Times.
LONDON: Te Anau in New Zealand is about as far removed from the tragic turmoil in the Middle East as it is possible to imagine. As the gateway to the South Island’s Fiordland, the tranquil town is all about stunning scenery, leisurely cruises and hipster vibes.
But even at the bottom of the world, my wife and I were frantically following the US-Israeli attack on Iran, which erupted while we were staying in Te Anau. No news addict can disconnect from such an event. Besides, we were focused on a more humdrum concern: Would our return Etihad flight to London via Abu Dhabi take off the following week? No.
Like many thousands of air passengers around the world, we found ourselves temporarily stranded. Our torturous efforts to return home highlighted the fragility of global travel networks. But they also exposed the flaws of the current flight booking system and the potential for developing better agentic AI solutions.
It was easy enough to find alternative flights via comparison sites and online travel agencies, such as Skyscanner, Expedia or Booking.com.
Singapore’s new space agency will help strengthen the country’s competitive advantages and raise public awareness of the sector, say Singapore Institute of Technology’s Victor Cole and Janice Wong.
From a kampung in Perak to the Golden Globes red carpet, Malaysian designer Lee Khoon Hooi reflects on three decades of building his independent occasion wear label, reinventing the qipao and expanding into the Middle East.
Under a pilot scheme called Thrive21+, four youths trade residential care for renting on the open market. Missed rent payments, landlord prejudice and loneliness soon reveal the realities facing care leavers ageing out of the system.
A stranger funded her studies – she paid it forward by co-founding a charity for low-income families
Adriana Rasip co-founded Empowered Families Initiative to help low-income families in rental flats grow savings, start businesses and pursue goals through grants, matched savings and community support.
Heading to Seoul? Beyond Osoi and Stand Oil, discover seven rising Korean bag brands – from minimalist Loeuvre to roomy Christine Project – loved for their craftsmanship, style and cult appeal.
Balendra Shah swept Nepal’s post-uprising election as the outsider. Governing is an entirely different challenge, says Rishi Gupta from the Asia Society Policy Institute.
Under a pilot scheme called Thrive21+, four youths trade residential care for renting on the open market. Missed rent payments, landlord prejudice and loneliness soon reveal the realities facing care leavers ageing out of the system.
A stranger funded her studies – she paid it forward by co-founding a charity for low-income families
Adriana Rasip co-founded Empowered Families Initiative to help low-income families in rental flats grow savings, start businesses and pursue goals through grants, matched savings and community support.
Besides diverting attention and resources, the Iran war threatens an energy crisis that could put Ukraine’s backers under economic strain, says international security professor Stefan Wolff.
Heading to Seoul? Beyond Osoi and Stand Oil, discover seven rising Korean bag brands – from minimalist Loeuvre to roomy Christine Project – loved for their craftsmanship, style and cult appeal.
Experts say most luxury bags, watches and jewellery are high-risk and trend-driven – only select pieces hold value, and condition and demand drive resale prices
Organisations have more employee information than ever before, but still rely on out-of-date snapshots and reductive metrics, say academics.
The three-year programme supports mothers, caregivers and women with health challenges to grow viable home businesses and regain confidence.