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Expedia CEO says AI agents aren't changing booking habits — yet

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In short

Expedia is actively integrating with personal AI tools like Meta's Muse and OpenAI's Dots so its travel listings appear during early itinerary planning. Ariane Gorin believes specialized platforms will retain market share because artificial intelligence struggles to replicate complex customer support, verified pricing, and real-time problem resolution. Investors, however, focused on near-term headwinds as Expedia shares dropped about 12% following subdued fourth-quarter revenue projections. Gorin cited shifting promotional calendars, midterm elections, and conflicts in Europe and the Middle East for the moderated financial outlook.

Key points

  • Digital assistants present competitive risks, but verified pricing and customer service c…: Digital assistants present competitive risks, but verified pricing and customer service complexities remain difficult for artificial intelligence to manage alone.
  • Expedia is positioning itself inside emerging AI platforms to ensure its inventory remain…: Expedia is positioning itself inside emerging AI platforms to ensure its inventory remains prominent in conversational search results.
  • Near-term financial guidance was dampened by international conflicts, election cycles, an…: Near-term financial guidance was dampened by international conflicts, election cycles, and adjusted marketing promotional schedules.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Expedia CEO Ariane Gorin said Thursday the company hasn't yet seen artificial intelligence agents affecting the way customers book, but the early signs show potential for an industry shift.

"It's a great way for people to do inspiration, to do trip planning," Gorin said in an interview with CNBC. "We haven't seen it change the way they're actually doing booking."

The comments come as personal AI agents like Meta's Muse and OpenAI's Dots enter the mainstream, promising to tackle everything from scheduling to shopping for everyday Americans. Opportunities in travel planning and booking could pose a competitive threat to traditional sites like Expedia.

Gorin said Expedia is "working with all of the agents" to make sure it surfaces in AI results, to understand how the agents get information and to make sure that the company has the necessary integrations.

She acknowledged it's possible that AI agents could develop their own travel programs and eventually claim market share, but she said complexities within the industry — customer service, for example — would be difficult to fully replace with artificial intelligence.

"People…

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