Disney's Olaf takes robot form
Attractions are embracing interactive robot storytellers, while tour operators risk being left behind
Alex Bainbridge
Finding the right tour guide form factor for 2030
By 2030, the question isn’t whether AI can tell a story — it’s which form factor will guide us through the world. From human hosts to vehicles, robots, and AI glasses, the future of touring will depend on who — or what — travellers choose to follow.
Arival AI and Destination AI: From automation to operating personalised experiences at scale
From t-shirts to jackets, from automation to orchestration — two AI conferences, one clear message. The next phase of travel isn’t about efficiency, it’s about experiences that design themselves.
Not a person. Not a phone. So what is the future AI tour guide?
From holograms to glasses, the future of guided travel is all about embedded intelligence
The sightseeing shift: With AI, guests want to design — not discover
The sightseeing industry is still optimising discovery, but AI shifts the game entirely — guests don’t want to browse options, they want to design their own
Tom Cruise climbed the Colosseum fence - what that teaches us about designing AI operated experiences for perspective
When Tom Cruise climbed the Colosseum fence at 3am, he wasn’t escaping a place — he was escaping the filter. AI operated experiences can do the same — if we design for perspective.
Brendan or your AI boyfriend?
As travellers bring AI companions on the road, place-based guides like Brendan must fight to stay relevant and local