Note from the Editor: In researching this issue, it was all AI! AI! AI ! Oy vey!
Then I wondered how this new acronym fits into one of the most buzziest of acronyms of the internet age - IoT - which is short for “the internet of things.” It refers to the network of multiple physical devices embedded with sensors, and software that enable them to connect and exchange data over the internet. Think smartwatch as a simple example!
.
AI takes this many steps further by infusing intelligence into the network and focusing on understanding and making decisions based on all the data. These technologies clearly are infusing all the virtual, mixed, and extended reality applications that we’re seeing in the travel industry. Voila.
Am I getting too much into “the weeds”?? Your feedback would be so welcome! Happy summer!
Deborah Reinow, Executive Editor |
I Back to the “what’s in it for me” category
4 new things that will make you want AR and VR in your life cnet.com |
Most people I know don't think about augmented reality, virtual reality, mixed reality, or the umbrella term for all these immersive technologies -- extended reality, abbreviated to XR. It's not all the terminology that turns them off, it's that they don't really know how XR fits in their world.
|
|
|
One of the many explanations out there for understanding how AI fits into your business
How generative AI is revolutionizing the travel industry entrepeneur.com
|
GenAI won't displace travel agents; instead, it will enhance their efficiency, enabling them to focus on crafting tailored experiences that resonate with travelers on a deeper level. Learning new things and transforming business operations always means a series of challenges and issues, but GenAI also represents an amazing opportunity that goes well beyond the simplistic "innovate or die" aphorism. This technology simply can't be ignored, and that's especially true for smaller businesses — they need to embrace GenAI early and make sure they do it the right way. |
|
|
Ah! But there is danger ahead!
The hidden risks of AI image manipulation in travel: What you need to know karryon.com.au
|
It might start innocently enough. The photo you have on file of a hotel room doesn’t quite capture the great view or the size of the room, so you touch it up a little. AI image manipulation can transform even the most boring of photos into something that may help you sell better. It can enhance colors, adjust lighting, remove unwanted elements, and even create entirely new scenes. For travel marketers, this means the ability to showcase products and destinations in their best possible light.
|
|
|
Pay attention to this one!
Booking.com warns of AI-fueled 900% scam surge silicon.co.uk
|
Travel scams rose up to 900 percent in 18 months as generative AI makes phishing sites harder to detect. The phishing scams involve setting up fake hotels on sites such as Booking.com or Airbnb and then vanishing after taking customers’ payments, or sending follow-up messages to scam them out of more money. |
|
|
Trust..but verify ..or maybe don’t trust and verify??
Google Maps deletes AI photos of Austrian landmarks after climate change bilyonaryo.com
|
Google on Saturday deleted from its maps service dozens of images of Austrian landmarks that were altered by environmental activists to highlight the potential impact of climate change. The images, changed using artificial intelligence, showed the river Danube and Austrian lakes dried up and snowless Alpine peaks as though the pictures were taken in the year 2070.
|
|
|
Deborah Reinow, Executive Editor . Maria Polk, President & CEO maria@VRTourismNews.com
|
|
|
|
|
