Artificial intelligence can assist you in researching travel destinations and streamlining tasks like booking reservations. But can AI plan a trip or vacation more effectively than you? To test AI's capabilities, CBS News senior transportation and national correspondent Kris Van Cleave used Google's Gemini bot to explore travel options, while CBS News correspondent Nancy Chen, an experienced traveler, utilized traditional online tools to compare flight, hotel, and activity deals. Here's what they discovered. Which method saved time and money? Both Van Cleave and Chen planned trips to Las Vegas, Nevada, but approached the task differently for comparison. With Google's Gemini AI app, Van Cleave spent less than a minute on his phone to generate an itinerary. Chen, on the other hand, spent about 45 minutes comparing deals and reviews on websites like Expedia, Kayak, and Tripadvisor. The outcome?Van Cleave saved time, with a total cost of $741. 48 for a flight and three nights at a five-star hotel, compared to Chen's itinerary costing $780. 05. "I think he won this round, and I really need a vacation now, " Chen commented. Communication issues Though Gemini found savings, it fell short when Van Cleave relied on it to create an itinerary for free activities and events on the ground. "I'm on my way, letting AI guide my day, " Van Cleave said. AI suggested visiting the Bellagio Resort & Casino for a free botanical garden. However, this information was outdated. "It didn't tell me — they seasonally tear it down for a holiday display, " Van Cleave noted. From her research, Chen visited the Pinball Hall of Fame, which was open and featured hundreds of pinball machines, including vintage games from 1953. AI also failed Van Cleave when it advised morning fountain shows at the Bellagio are less crowded than afternoon ones. "The morning fountain shows are less crowded because there are no morning shows, " Van Cleave said.

"They don't start until three. " Van Cleave was misled again when he expected to see a volcano show at the Mirage. Instead, he found a construction site for a new Hard Rock Cafe. AI did successfully guide Van Cleave to Vegas' art district on Fremont Street and booked a dinner reservation that both correspondents enjoyed. To err is human Chen's search wasn't flawless either. She visited the Stratosphere Tower, the tallest observation tower in the U. S. , hoping for a free ride to its top-floor lounge. However, there was a catch. "I thought it was free to reach the drinks lounge. . . but turns out it charged admission, " she said. In the end, acknowledging the unscientific nature of CBS News' test, AI was the clear winner on speed. Yet, it still needs human oversight to ensure its advice remains accurate and timely. A company producing AI travel tools, GuideGeek, informed CBS News it's 98% accurate but is constantly updating its technology to provide better guidance on business hours and other details. Users are encouraged to give feedback on inaccurate recommendations to enhance the product for others. Major travel services are optimistic about "generative AI, " which creates content based on existing data, being a lasting presence. Expedia, among others, has launched its own AI tool to offer users information like the best times to visit destinations. and contributed to this report.