Plan your commute with the help of AI

The future of AI in transportation

Car navigation has come a long way (pun fully intended). Fully integrated navigation and GPS have been standard fixtures in cars for a while now, and it may be only a matter of time before generative artificial intelligence (AI) in transportation becomes the norm, though the technology and its use cases continue to evolve.

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AI navigation tools use machine learning to analyze enormous datasets that contain many types of data, while also continuously learning from “experience” (i.e. you driving and the conditions you encounter) and adapt to make better predictions.

One topical automotive innovation driven by AI is autonomous driving, where drivers put their vehicle on “autopilot” and let the AI do the steering, braking, and navigation. But we’re likely still a long time away from self-driving cars becoming the norm on our roads, as crucial elements like legislation, insurance, safety regulations, and infrastructure need to catch up.

How to use AI to plan your commutes and travels

Whether you’re playing around with Copilot on your phone before your trip, or already have AI navigation integrated into your vehicle, you can use AI-powered services for the following in your travels:

Estimate drive time

Nearly all modern navigation systems can estimate driving times from point A to point B, but they usually require the input of an exact address. Unlike traditional GPS-based navigation systems, AI doesn’t necessarily need to know your exact coordinates to give you an idea of how long you’ll be on the road, though keep in mind its output will only be as good as its input.

For example, if you’re planning a trip from Chicago to San Diego, you could simply ask a generative AI tool, “How long will it take to drive from Chicago to San Diego?” Depending on the system or tool you’re using, it should quickly give you an estimate of your trip and map it out for you.

Optimize your routes

Some modern navigation systems offer alternative driving routes to shorten your driving time, depending on current conditions. AI-powered tools may take it a step further as they’re able to account for other factors that non-AI navigation systems cannot factor in, like your driving habits, or your car’s fuel economy or battery range.

So rather than prompting AI for the fastest driving route from Chicago to San Diego, you can get more personalized results with a prompt like this: “Take me from Chicago to San Diego in the most scenic way that maximizes my all-wheel drive hybrid electric vehicle that gets an estimated 60MPG combined on city streets and highways.”

Check traffic

AI services are also helpful when you want to check traffic along your route, especially if you’re planning in advance and want predictions for future traffic conditions. For example, if you wanted to check current traffic on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, you could prompt a generative AI tool, “How is the traffic right now on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago?”

Plan even further ahead with future predictions. Get more specific with prompts like, “Predict how the traffic will be on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago on July 4 around 7 PM.”

While AI in traffic prediction will continue to improve over time, always refer to traffic reports with live updates for the most accurate and up-to-date results.

Plan interesting pit stops along the way

If you have some long-distance car travel coming up, use AI to map interesting pit stops on your route. Web-based generative AI tools can suggest local landmarks, popular restaurants, hotels, tourist attractions, and more, depending on your route. For road trips, you can even have ask it to tie everything together into an itinerary if you prompt it with cities you’ll drive through and your expected timing.

For example, you can ask, “What are some must-see pit stops to take along my trip from Chicago to San Diego?”

To get a full-fleshed itinerary and recommendations from AI, further customize your prompt and say something like, “Could you suggest haunted landmarks to check out on my trip from Chicago to San Diego to make me a spooky itinerary?”

Generative AI continues to evolve, and there are many ways you may use it alongside navigation tools to plan efficient daily commutes and memorable road trips. In fact, you can turn to AI for inspiration and help with daily aspects of your life, whether at home or at work.