A mom from a family of six, including two sets of twins, uses ChatGPT to plan a family trip in Kuala Lumpur and compares it to the plan of a hotel’s concierge.
To save time and stress, Marissa Goldstein who creates travel contents with her family decided to put ChatGPT to the test. The family told the AI: “Please plan a one day itinerary in Kuala Lumpur for a family with four young kids ages 5-8. Include destinations to learn about Malaysian culture and history.”
She wanted to see whether ChatGPT could understand what it takes to travel with kids to a new city and whether it could perform better than the locals who’ve been helping families like hers make the most out of their trips.
Within seconds Marissa’s family had a six-point itinerary that covered several neighbourhoods, cultural sites, and dining options. For a family who’s been on the road for a few months, they’ve got plenty of information to get started. The itinerary was so complete that it could have been pulled from a guidebook — and it probably was.
Besides that, they also asked the Westin hotel concierge whether they were headed in the right direction. His advice took longer than ChatGPT’s, but it was priceless.
A human was more helpful than AI
The first stop ChatGPT suggested was the iconic Petronas Twin Towers to see the panorama of the city.
ChatGPT has already overestimated their abilities and budget. For nearly $100 they could spend the morning encouraging four children to appreciate a city view from the 86th floor.
Instead, they took the concierge’s advice: Check out the skyscraper’s outside and head inside for the kids to enjoy the science center, visit the free art gallery, and taste an icy cendol.
As the day progressed, they discovered that the ChatGPT itinerary was generalised and packed. They corralled the family through Central Market, hurried to Chinatown, and hailed a taxi for a drive-by sighting of a temple in Little India.
It was a struggle to convince their 7-year-old twins to see another landmark or enjoy a leisurely walk down a busy street — they wanted to run around in the botanical gardens recommended to us by the concierge.
The AI recommendations lacked human connection
The further they got down the itinerary, the more they realised the AI hot spots were sorely out of touch. ChatGPT didn’t, or couldn’t, factor in the human connections that could have made their year abroad impactful.
They were directed to a list of destinations to view but very little to experience. ChatGPT put together an itinerary for them to witness a city rather than experience a culture.
On the other hand, the Westin’s hotel concierge didn’t need clear instructions to understand that sightseeing is not always fun for kids. He could see that the four children would not sit still. He knew they’d get worn out in the heat. And he could predict that dinner at a fancy restaurant would end in a meltdown. He knew this because he has kids.
He knew where to send them to eat, which sights they should skip, and which hawker stalls they should pop into for a taste of Malaysia. He shared the richness of Nyonya cuisine, guided the family to the world’s best banana-leaf restaurant, and advised them to avoid the rush-hour jam.
AI gave us a starting place to plan
ChatGPT gave Marissa a starting place, but it’s not a panacea. The recommendations were fast but bland and lacking in specifics that would’ve given us insight into Malaysia’s history and rich culture. While an AI-generated email might fool the recipient, an AI-generated travel plan can’t fool you into enjoying your holiday.
Unless you’re a big fan of checking items off a list, as perhaps a robot might travel, humans need the interpersonal experiences that bring us closer together.
The highlight of the trip was not the temple they sped past but the banana-leaf restaurant where the children asked why they don’t serve beef and why some patrons were eating with their hands. This didn’t come from a computer’s suggestion but from the living, breathing concierge who knew exactly how to inspire a hot, travel-worn family on the go.
Check out the video of their Kuala Lumpur trip in Youtube.
Find out more about Marissa and her family’s adventure:
Instagram | Youtube
