Airline says new AI integration will give travelers a more direct way to explore Southwest flights
DALLAS (Smokies.LIVE Travel Center) — Southwest Airlines has launched what it describes as the first U.S. airline plugin in ChatGPT, giving travelers a new way to discover and shop for Southwest flights through the AI platform.
The Oct. 6 launch marks the first step in a phased artificial intelligence-powered booking approach Southwest is developing with OpenAI and Amazon Web Services.
Through the Southwest plugin, travelers can find Southwest flight options earlier in the trip-planning process, creating a more direct path from travel inspiration and discovery to booking options with the airline.
“Customers are evolving how they plan their travel, and Southwest is helping to shape what comes next,” Sabrina Callahan, Southwest’s chief digital and marketing officer, said in a statement. “It is a meaningful example of how we test and learn with AI innovation to continue the Customer-first approach that defines our brand.”
Southwest said it is working with OpenAI and AWS to combine AI and cloud technologies with the airline’s understanding of its customers.
The airline said the technology is intended to create a more intuitive travel-planning experience while allowing Southwest to expand AI-powered capabilities over time.
“We’re putting the right technology in place to support what our Customers need today with flexibility to build what they’ll need tomorrow,” Lauren Woods, Southwest’s executive vice president and chief information officer, said in a statement. “By creating a secure, scalable foundation for AI, we can add new capabilities more quickly and thoughtfully, making it easier to serve Customers across their journey.”
Southwest said the new plugin is part of a broader effort to incorporate AI into the customer experience while building a secure and scalable technology foundation.
Travelers can learn more about the Southwest ChatGPT plugin at Southwest.com/chatgpt.
No responses yet