**Google Expands AI-Powered Travel Tools in Search for Easier Trip Planning**
Google has announced a major expansion of its artificial intelligence-powered travel planning features, aiming to make it easier than ever for users to find deals, organize itineraries, and even book reservations directly through Google Search. The company is introducing updates to its “Flight Deals” tool, enhancing its “Canvas” trip planning feature within AI Mode, and rolling out agentic booking capabilities to a wider audience.
**Flight Deals Goes Global**
Originally launched in August across the United States, Canada, and India, Google’s Flight Deals tool is now expanding its reach to over 200 countries and territories. This includes major travel markets such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Mexico, Brazil, Indonesia, Japan, and Korea. The expansion also brings support for more than 60 languages, making it accessible to a significantly larger global audience.
Flight Deals leverages AI to help travelers quickly find affordable flight options. Users simply describe their travel preferences—such as destination, dates, and other details—and the tool surfaces the best available bargains. By analyzing real-time data from airlines and booking sites, Google Flights presents users with a curated list of cost-effective destinations and itineraries that fit their criteria. This global rollout means that more travelers can now take advantage of AI-powered insights to save money and streamline their search for flights.
**Smarter Trip Planning with Canvas**
Another major update is the introduction of enhanced trip planning capabilities via the Canvas tool in Google’s AI Mode. Canvas was initially designed to help users organize study plans and gather information across multiple sessions within a convenient side panel. Now, Google has repurposed this tool to assist with travel planning.
To use the feature, users start by telling AI Mode what kind of trip they’re interested in—such as a family vacation, a romantic getaway, or a solo adventure. By selecting “Create with Canvas,” Google’s AI generates a detailed plan in the side panel. This plan incorporates real-time search data for flights and hotels, integrates information from Google Maps (like photos and reviews), and pulls in relevant suggestions from across the web.
The Canvas tool goes beyond simply listing options; it offers tailored suggestions based on the user’s criteria. For example, it can compare hotels not just by price, but by amenities or proximity to attractions. It also suggests restaurants and activities, optimizing recommendations based on travel time from the user’s accommodation. Users are able to refine their plans further by asking follow-up questions—such as weighing the pros and cons of a hotel closer to a favorite brunch spot versus one nearer to hiking trails.
Currently, trip planning with Canvas is available on desktop to U.S. users who are participating in Google’s Labs AI Mode experiment. However, with Google’s track record of scaling successful features, broader availability is likely on the horizon.
**Expanded Agentic Booking Features**
Google is also making its AI Mode’s agentic capabilities available to all users in the United States, after previously