How AI Is Revolutionizing Family Travel—And Why Matt Britton Says It’s Just the Beginning

Artificial Intelligence is changing everything—from the way we work to how we educate our children. But one area that often flies under the radar? Family travel.

Matt Britton, CEO of Suzy and author of Generation AI: Why Generation Alpha in the Age of AI Will Change Everything, recently appeared on Portland’s ABC KATU News to discuss this very shift. Known as one of the leading voices on emerging consumer behavior, Britton offered a compelling look at how AI is not only streamlining vacation planning but fundamentally redefining how families interact with technology.

Here’s what he had to say—and why it matters for every parent, marketer, and innovator paying attention to the future.

The Death of Blue Links: How Families Plan Travel with AI

For decades, planning a family vacation meant hours spent digging through Google search results, clicking on dozens of links, and trying to piece together flights, hotels, and activities. But as Britton explained, that process is becoming obsolete.

“Instead of bouncing around from site to site, you can now open a tool like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini and ask for exactly what you want,” Britton told KATU viewers. “A family of four, budget of $5,000, warm weather, three-day weekend? You’ll get a detailed itinerary—customized, costed, and optimized—in seconds.”

Britton likens AI-powered travel planning to having a personal travel agent in your pocket—one that knows your preferences, remembers your past trips, and works 24/7.

The Rise of AI Travel Tools: Perplexity, Operator, and Beyond

During the interview, Britton flagged two tools that are beginning to reshape how families plan and book travel:

• Perplexity – An AI-powered search engine that offers concise, contextual answers (perfect for travel discovery).

• ChatGPT’s “Operator” Mode – A new feature capable not only of making recommendations but executing bookings within budget and using saved preferences.

“Operator is basically your assistant with a credit card,” Britton explained. “It’s not just curating the trip it’s booking it for you.”

This shift doesn’t just help with trip logistics. It also transforms how people experience destinations. One example: Britton shared how a traveler used ChatGPT to plan an impromptu 9-hour layover in Hong Kong—discovering hidden gems he never would have found on his own.

AI With Memory: A Hyper-Personalized Travel Experience

With memory-enabled chatbots now in play, families are seeing something truly new: personalized recommendations that evolve over time.

“These tools now know if you prefer hiking over museums, or that your kids are under 10,” Britton said. “That level of context is game-changing.”

It means AI can anticipate needs before they’re asked. Want a beach that’s stroller-friendly? Restaurants that cater to picky eaters? AI gets smarter every time you use it.

Addressing the Privacy Question

Understandably, the idea of AI “remembering” your personal data raises concerns. But Britton argues these fears are largely overblown.

“When you type a query into ChatGPT, it’s not fundamentally different from using Gmail or iCloud,” Britton said. “It’s encrypted, cloud-based storage. If you’re already comfortable emailing or shopping online, you’re already trusting these systems.”

His advice: just try it. Ask ChatGPT how it can help plan your next trip. Tell it your budget, destination, and travel style—and see what comes back. You don’t have to book anything. Just explore.

Why Generation Alpha Will Never Travel the Same Way

As the author of Generation AI, Britton didn’t stop at vacation planning. He used the conversation to underline a much bigger cultural shift: Generation Alpha’s complete immersion in AI from birth.

“This is the first generation that will grow up with AI embedded in every part of life,” Britton noted. “They’ll never know a world without it.”

Born between 2010 and 2025, Gen Alpha is already reshaping how families make decisions. They influence shopping, media, and yes—travel. AI will only amplify that role.

“By the time Gen Alpha hits adulthood, AI will be managing their calendars, booking their trips, and even curating their entertainment while they’re abroad,” Britton added.

Beyond Travel: The Broader Impact of AI on Culture and Society

The conversation on KATU News echoed many of the core ideas from Britton’s book, which outlines how AI will disrupt education, employment, parenting, and consumerism.

“Travel is just one vertical,” Britton explained. “AI will soon be central to how we shop, work, learn, and raise our kids.”

He emphasized that whether you’re a parent or a brand leader, ignoring AI is no longer an option.

“If you want to future-proof yourself—whether as a parent, employee, or citizen—you need to understand and embrace what AI can do.”

Why Matt Britton’s Perspective Matters

Matt Britton isn’t just another tech commentator. As the founder of Suzy—a venture-backed consumer intelligence platform used by Coca-Cola, Verizon, Netflix, and more—he’s helping brands decode cultural shifts in real time. With over two decades of experience advising the Fortune 500, Britton brings a rare combination of futurism and commercial pragmatism.

He’s also lived through every major tech wave: from launching one of the first social media agencies to selling the first Facebook ads, to now leading a company that embeds AI into enterprise research.

His ability to explain the so what of innovation makes his voice one of the most trusted in the space and Generation AI his most urgent work yet.

This Is A Full-Scale Cultural Transformation

What came through loud and clear during Britton’s KATU appearance is that AI isn’t a fad. It’s a full-scale reinvention of how we live, parent, and travel.

And it’s already here.