A “Friday in the evening matinee?” To quote Gershwins, they are not necessary. But this was suggested by the modern artificial intelligence that I hit Broadway.
When I was asked to see what the AI ​​was right and wrong about a visit to New York, I was deeply curious and felt well fit for the mission – I am a resident of Manhattan since 1989, a frequent city guide for friends and family and a 1990 journalist.
I sampled several AI-Planner sites with the same holiday request: Create a journey for a two-year-old trip to New York from April 17 to April 20 that indicates an affordable hotel (less than $ 250 per night) in the middle of the city, many virtual landmarks or museums, a Broadway. I requested instructions for accessible ways to get to every place from the hotel and then submit additional applications for suggestions if the children came together.
While most of the sites offered many of the same classic spots in New York, such as the Museum of Contemporary Art, the user’s experience varies. (Note that all sampling websites use OpenAI software in some way and the Times have active copyright against Openai.) If you are new to the world of AI travel designers, there are some who may address some types of human travel designers.
If you want a friendly interface
With its active homepage full of photos and features, Mindtrip (Free) felt like the most welcoming AI developer for a newcomer. Its original itinerary hit most of the top tourist stops, such as the Statue of Freedom, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Central Park, with links to the proposed sites of the sites. Mindtrip also suggested at the Pod 51 Hotel on East 51st Street (about $ 303 at night), which is an excellent location, but the rooms in the POD chain are targeting a “chic minimalist”, which may not be for everyone, especially families.
Good: Manhattan’s sights tend to dominate the list, but Mindtrip suggested that you cross the Brooklyn Bridge for Grimaldi’s Photo and Pizza – so to reach a second municipality.
The evil: The timetable for the third day suggested that you visit the Statue of Freedom and the Empire State building in the morning – and then go to the “Hamilton” matinee. This seemed unrealistic with timed tours and traveled all over the city, especially since Matinee starts at 1 pm on Saturday at 1pm. To exchange the proposed ride around the Rockefeller Center and Times Square from another day on the route made a more reasonable meaning.
The unexpected: When asked about a “hidden jewelry” to visit, he proposed the tension museum, which reveals a century of New York City history through the experiences of his immigrants.
If you need details ahead
Crap, (free; $ 10 a month, for the premium plan) Another web-based chatbot and developer had a heavier text but a cleaner environment and suggested many of the city’s own milestones with related links. For those who are not sure of how to ask for information, the site has a useful guide to optimal practices for the AI ​​pension prompts the best results. Vacay’s premium Plan, designed for frequent travelers, offers more AI models for more specific recommendations, technical support and tips for planning themes.
Good: Although he did not have his own maps in the conversation window, Vacay’s Planner had more accurate advice, not only to propose Central Park, but to recommend the Bethesda and Strawberry Fields fields within it. And it was also called specific bus and subway lines to reach the destinations without the need for a separate request, based on the position of the proposed Pod 39 Hotel on the East 39th Street (about $ 290 at night). You can download your conversation transcripts, even in free plan.
The evil: Vacay Bot suggested a “Friday night” of a broadway broadcast.
The unexpected: The site advised the visit to the top of the rock for the city’s views, which allows you to include Empire State Building in your photos, so you can consider the Skyline-Selfie experience.
If chatgpt is used for everything
The popular and pioneering chatgpt (free, paid designs start at $ 20 a month for advanced features, such as the new Deep Research tool) also recommended staying at the Pod 51 Hotel. Pod people were clearly influencing Bot people.
Good: Chatgpt made reasonable plans for multiple activities in the same part of the city, such as grouping a morning visit to the statue of Liberty and Ellis Island with an afternoon stop at the September 11th Museum.
The evil: Chatgpt also suggested a Matinee on Friday for several Broadway shows, despite the fact that Friday is not a day for any of them. Some predicted walking times were impossible – the hit from the theater area at Joe’s pizza on Carmine Street takes far more than seven minutes. Maybe he really meant Joe’s near Broadway and 40th Street.
The unexpected: A ride on the high line and a visit to the Chelsea market appeared as a proposal. They come to think about it would be very nice in a spring.
If a reliable travel space is vital
If you prefer to stick with a well-known brand, the 25-year-old TripAdvisor is among those who offer AI-Planning help. To create a trip, you just answer a few questions about what you want to do and TripAdvisor presents a screen full of menu options. Click the desired options and the site creates a travel program. Among the hotel’s proposals: The Pod Times Square on West 42nd Street (about $ 259 at night), leading me to believe if you have a “affordable hotel” in your New York request, Travelbots will suggest a pod.
Good: TripAdvisor had the best ideas for kids, including a stop on the Hayden planet and Hayden’s Tea Cup restaurant.
The evil: The site suggested Alice’s location on the east side of Central Park instead of it near the planetarium on the west side.
The unexpected: TripAdvisor, which has a huge user -produced review repository, has changed some of the pizza recommendations to include Don Antonio and Capizzi along with the usual attitudes of John’s and Joe.
TripAdvisor also had the most joyous disclaimer: “AI is not perfect, but will help you hit the ground.”
Each AI travel tester tested here (along with others out there, including Layla, Wonderplan and mobile guide) warns you that the information you receive from them may not be correct. Take this to the heart and check all this.
Another tip: If you have never used a AI travel developer before, keep in mind that asking everything in a big question can lead to some confused answers. Start with the basic outline of the trip, such as finding a hotel in a specific area for specific dates, and then ask about local attractions, transit instructions, restaurant recommendations and other information in subsequent applications to build your journey.
While AI designers are still used mostly for research and planning, AII agents such as the Openai operator could soon keep your travels and you will really want to make sure the itinerary is right.
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