Page 16 - LabMedya - ENG - 11

/labmedya/labmedya

1616 HEALTH AND LABORATORY MAGAZINEHEALTH AND LABORATORY MAGAZINE

MAJORITY SAUDIS USE AI TOOLS TO

MAKE TRAVEL DECISIONS: SURVEY

Saudi travelers are language model-based 40 percent of 45–60-year- it among the top Additionally, 8 percent of
increasingly relying on chatbots, which stood at olds also using AI for deals, contributors to global respondents are heading
smart technologies, with 87 52 percent according to a activities, and translation,” research and highlights its to Switzerland, 7 percent
percent using generative study by Elon University in said Akkaoui. emerging role as a regional to the UK, France, and
artificial intelligence tools North Carolina. technology leader. Thailand, while 6 percent
like ChatGPT and Gemini He added: “In fact, have chosen Italy as their
to plan and manage their “AI is becoming a trusted less than 15 percent of Saudi Arabia’s Public summer destination.
vacations, according to a travel companion, and respondents are not using Investment Fund, in
survey. not just among younger AI for their travels. This partnership with Google, “While Türkiye remains
generations. From shows that generative launched Project the top destination across
In its latest report, global finding hidden gems AI is no longer niche, it is Transcendence in 2024, a all age groups, younger
consumer insights provider and translating on the becoming mainstream, $100 billion undertaking, travelers show a stronger
Toluna revealed that 46 go, to getting activity cross-generational, and it as part of its efforts to interest in long-haul and
percent of Saudi travelers suggestions, young Saudi is already reshaping how advance the growth of AI. East Asian locations. For
are using AI assistants to travelers are making the people prepare for and example, Japan appeals to
discover activities, while most of AI to enhance experience their trips.” The initiative is set to 14 percent of 18–28-year-
43 percent use them for every part of their journey,” bolster the growth of local olds, compared to just 3
translation purposes. said Georges Akkaoui, These findings also tech startups, generate percent of those aged
enterprise account director underscore the progress employment opportunities, 29–44, and 0 percent
These findings align Middle East, Turkiye, and of AI adoption in and foster collaborations among travelers aged
with the broader trend Africa at Toluna. Saudi Arabia, with the with global technology 45–60,” said the report.
observed in the Kingdom, technology emerging firms, positioning the
where the number of The survey said 43 percent as a key component of Kingdom at the forefront of In contrast, 14 percent
people using AI tools is of Saudi travelers use AI to the Kingdom’s post-oil regional innovation. of older travelers aged
increasingly rising. find the best deals, while economic development between 45 and 60 are
31 percent rely on these strategy. Türkiye, the most planning a trip to the UK,
In June, a report prepared technologies to optimize preferred destination a destination that sees
by Google with UK-based their itineraries, and 38 According to the Global less interest from younger
research agency Public percent use them for AI Competitiveness Index The survey found that 19 respondents as a summer
First showed that 80 restaurant suggestions. released in January, the percent of Saudi travelers getaway.
percent of Saudi adults use Kingdom ranked 15th prefer Turkiye as their
AI tools, with one in three “What is interesting is globally in research output favorite destination to In terms of spending, most
utilizing them regularly. that this (use of AI) is not in the sector, having visit, followed by Egypt at international travelers are
limited to the tech-savvy; produced 29,639 AI- 15 percent, the UAE at 14 willing to invest significantly
This is nearly double the we are seeing notable related publications. percent, and the US at 10 in their summer
share of adults in the US adoption even among percent. experiences.
who report using large older travelers, with over This ranking places