The Perils of Letting AI Plan Your Trip: A Psychological Perspective
In a world where artificial intelligence is entering almost every aspect of daily life, a new debate has emerged in the travel industry: what happens when AI takes over the planning of our vacations? The article “The perils of letting AI plan your next trip” published by BBC Travel highlights the risks of relying entirely on algorithms to design journeys. Travel psychologist Javier Labourt expands on this discussion, questioning how far technology can go in replacing human sensitivity without sacrificing authenticity, emotional connection, and the transformative power of travel.
Automation vs Human Experience
At first glance, automated planning seems like a practical solution: optimized routes, personalized recommendations, and efficient logistics. Yet Labourt argues that a journey cannot be reduced to calculations. When AI plans a trip, emotional decisions often disappear — such as choosing a path guided by intuition, pausing at unexpected sights, or changing direction based on a sudden feeling.
The main issue is that AI does not feel the journey. It cannot sense your fatigue, emotions, or subtle needs. Without room for subjectivity, itineraries risk becoming rigid, predictable, and sterile. “Travel should not be reduced to a perfectly optimized algorithm,” Labourt often reminds his audience.
Psychological Risks of Algorithmic Tourism
Delegating travel planning to AI may bring certain hidden costs:
- Emotional disconnection: The surprise and mild uncertainty that make travel exciting vanish when everything is preprogrammed.
- Higher expectations: AI often promises “the best experience,” which can increase the pressure for perfection.
- Loss of personal agency: Travelers risk feeling less like protagonists and more like passengers following instructions.
- Bias and standardization: Many AI systems tend to recommend similar or mainstream options, neglecting local authenticity or alternative paths.
According to Labourt, an AI-designed trip can resemble a neatly packaged box — polished but cold — lacking the human pulse that transforms travel into a meaningful journey.
Strategies to Preserve the Essence of Travel
From a psychological perspective, Labourt suggests several ways to balance technology with authenticity:
- Use AI as a tool, not an oracle
Let it suggest routes or alternatives, but keep final decisions human. - Leave space for improvisation
Reserve moments in your itinerary without a fixed plan, allowing the unexpected to unfold. - Practice emotional presence
Pause consciously during the trip to notice your surroundings and reconnect with your feelings. - Choose with human criteria
Favor lesser-known destinations, authentic local experiences, and places that resonate personally rather than algorithmic popularity. - Reflect after the journey
Identify which moments created genuine emotion, distinguishing meaningful experiences from superficial ones.
Technology and Human Nature: A Necessary Tension
AI is not inherently the enemy of travel. Its strengths in logistics, data, and optimization are undeniable. The real risk appears when travelers surrender entirely to automation. For Labourt, the challenge is to maintain a healthy tension between the efficiency of technology and the depth of human experience.
If efficiency, speed, and convenience always take priority, travel may lose its symbolic meaning. But when emotional variables — sensitivity, presence, and spontaneity — are integrated, AI can become an ally instead of a dictator of the journey.
Final Reflection
BBC Travel’s article raises an important warning: relying fully on AI for travel planning can strip the journey of its unpredictability and emotional richness. Voices like Javier Labourt’s remind us that traveling is not just about reaching a destination, but about embracing the uncertainties and connections that transform a trip into a life experience.
AI may help us plan smarter, but without space for human intention and emotion, the risk is to experience only a simulation of travel — not travel itself.
This article summarizes some of the key reflections that Javier Labourt shared with BBC Travel about the dangers of letting AI plan your trip. You can read the full article by clicking here.
To discover more press content —interviews, articles, and similar reflections— you can explore the press section of his website here.