Sabre has developed an AI-powered chatbot as it explores how the technology can help travel agencies.
Leveraging Microsoft Bot Framework and Cognitive Services, the new chatbot will add intelligent and conversational features to their applications.
Sabre will initially test the bot with two travel agencies and their travellers.
“Travellers want technology to deliver a more seamless experience, especially when managing on-the-go changes and disruptions,” said Mark McSpadden, vice president – emerging technology and products of Sabre Corporation.
“Together with Microsoft and our agency partners, we are exploring how AI and chatbots can provide travellers with the self-service solutions they want for routine requests while helping travel agencies provide personal service for more complex needs.”
Sabre added: “Travel applications must recognize a plethora of unique terms and phrases, which adds complexity for industry applications. LUIS provides simple tools to build language models that allow any application or bot to understand commands and act accordingly.”
Two Sabre-connected travel agencies – Dallas-based Travel Solutions International USA and San Francisco-based Casto Travel – will test a white-label version with travellers, who will access it via Facebook Messenger. Travellers will use it for common service and support requests, such as changing an existing flight reservation. It will divert to a live travel agent if it is unable to fulfil a request.
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