by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 3:05 PM ET, Mon January 12, 2026
Like it or hate it, AI is rapidly transforming daily life, impacting everything from how we work to the ways in which we book and experience travel.
But at least one group of people have made very clear they're not interested in AI's assistance when it comes to travel.
The Global Rescue Fall 2025 Traveler Sentiment and Safety Survey reveals that most of the world’s most experienced travelers remain reluctant to let Agentic AI — which is autonomous digital assistants that plan, book and manage trips — take charge of their journeys. .
When asked if they would consider using Agentic AI for their next international trip, only one in five (22 percent) said yes. Men (24 percent) were more open than women (19 percent) and US travelers (23 percent) were slightly more receptive than non-US travelers (20 percent).
But here's the key takeaway: Nearly four in ten (40 percent) said they would not use it and another 38 percent were unsure.
“Travelers are curious but cautious,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies and a member of the US Travel and Tourism Advisory Board at the US Department of Commerce. “They want to understand how these emerging AI systems make decisions before they’re comfortable handing over control.”
Only 18 percent of respondents said they had heard of Agentic AI before the survey. Awareness was slightly higher among men (19 percent) and non-US travelers (20 percent) than among women (14 percent) and US respondents (17 percent).
Comfort levels dropped sharply when travelers were asked how they’d feel about letting Agentic AI make autonomous decisions. Only 20 percent said they would feel comfortable letting AI design a complete trip itinerary based on their preferences. Women and international travelers were the most hesitant.
Discomfort grew when the scenario involved Agentic AI booking flights, hotels or activities without traveler approval. Nearly eight in ten (79 percent) said they would feel uncomfortable with that level of control. Women were especially skeptical, with 83 percent reporting unease compared to 77 percent of men.
When asked about allowing AI to automatically rebook disrupted flights or hotels, acceptance rose slightly — about 22 percent said they would feel comfortable, while roughly 60% said they would not. Americans were marginally more open than international travelers, but women again showed greater caution.
The one area where travelers showed stronger acceptance was AI-driven cost savings. About 38 percent said they would be comfortable letting AI apply promo codes or adjust bookings to find better deals. Men (40%) and US travelers (39%) were more open to this than women (38 percent) or non-US respondents (35 percent).
“These results show a clear boundary between curiosity and trust,” Richards said. “Travelers may welcome AI tools that save them money, but they’re not yet ready to let those tools make major decisions on their behalf.”
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