Google's Using AI to Help You Find Cheap Flights

Google Flights is getting an AI tool to help you find the best deals for your upcoming trips by just going to a chatbox and telling it what you want. Called Flight Deals, you use it just like you'd use a Google search box. Just describe when, where, and how you want to travel, and it's supposed to handle the rest.

The new AI tool is for those who don't like fiddling with the many different search tools on Google Flights, which currently require you to select specific airports or dates, even if you just want to browse. I've used Google Flights to find many great flight deals over the years, but I have to admit that it's not for everyone. Currently, Google Flights searches are like using a stick shift car when automatics are easily available. Sure, Google Flights gives you much more control, but Google's designed Flight Deals to be accessible to everyone. Once it's widely available, it could be an easier way to find a cheap flight you'd otherwise miss, or even ideate on trip ideas in general.

Flight Deals will also show trip suggestions below the search box, based on your location, even if you haven't searched for anything yet. As for your own searches, Google says you're free to get creative. You could say "cheap economy class flight from New York to LA in one month," but you could also try search terms like week-long trip this winter to a city with great food, nonstop only" or 10 day ski trip to a world-class resort with fresh powder."

At the moment, Flight Deals is rolling out in beta in the U.S., Canada, and India. Neither I or my editor currently have access to it, but Google says the rollout should be finished in about a week. In the U.S. and Canada, Google says it's also added an option to exclude basic economy fares, which can be quite helpful for those with a lot of luggage, as those fares sometimes don't even include a carry-on bag anymore.