In a recent interview with T+L India, Raj K. Gopalakrishnan, co-founder of KOGO Tech Labs, shared the inspiring journey that led to the creation of KOGO.ai, the first AI travel expert. The inception of this groundbreaking platform occurred during a Himalayan trip with co-founder Praveer, where the duo faced challenges locating a familiar tea shop. This experience sparked the idea for an advanced hyperlocal planning and discovery tool, addressing the need for efficient travel solutions encountered by frequent adventurers and motorcycle enthusiasts.
The recent sponsorship from MapMyIndia has further propelled KOGO into the realm of a robust real-time locational intelligence system and a comprehensive travel ecosystem. Gopalakrishnan emphasized that KOGO stands out as the ultimate AI travel expert today, providing not only travel planning capabilities but also incorporating social engagement and community elements.
In simple terms, AI travel itineraries offered by KOGO differ significantly from traditional travel planning methods. Through the AI Trip Maker and the AI travel advisor, Kogonaut, users can create custom itineraries swiftly and engage in meaningful conversations to access comprehensive trip information, ultimately saving time. The platform’s evolution over the past three years has transformed it from an AI storytelling platform to a sophisticated travel booking and discovery ecosystem.
KOGO’s coverage extends beyond specific destinations, proudly encompassing the entirety of India. The partnership with MapMyIndia equips the platform with over 17 million locational data points, forming the foundation for a vast bookable travel ecosystem. This collaboration empowers users with unparalleled navigational capabilities, ensuring a seamless travel experience.
Artificial intelligence plays a pivotal role in curating these innovative itineraries. The AI Trip Maker generates detailed, customized itineraries within seconds, covering travel routes, lodging, activities, dining options, and attractions. Additionally, the voice-activated Kogonaut Chat allows users to interact with an AI Travel Expert, receiving advice on various aspects of their journey. The massive bookable travel ecosystem, comprising over 17 million data points, facilitates seamless interactions and ensures users can access the best prices without commissions or margins through the KOGO X membership.
Ensuring the privacy of user data is a top priority for KOGO Tech Labs. The platform employs a Geospatial engine, powered by Mappls and an in-house knowledge-gathering engine, to gather data from various sources at scale. Deep encrypted vector databases store this data securely, allowing easy querying with natural language.
Gopalakrishnan shared some memorable travel stories curated by KOGO, highlighting a couple’s remarkable 40-day cycling journey from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. Users on platforms like Bajaj, TVS, and Jawa motorcycles have utilized the KOGO AI Storytelling feature to create rich travelogues, showcasing their unique adventures and experiences.
When asked about curating an ideal itinerary using AI, Gopalakrishnan emphasized the importance of user-friendly approaches. KOGO employs predestination-based itineraries, an AI wizard for recommendations, and the voice-activated KOGONAUT to provide diverse options for users. The goal is to make trip planning easier and faster through the power of AI.
Looking ahead, Gopalakrishnan sees artificial intelligence shaping the future of travel by streamlining processes and enhancing customer satisfaction. KOGO Tech Labs aims to play a key role in this revolution, constantly innovating and expanding its offerings. The company has secured two rounds of funding totaling INR 190 million from MapMyIndia, positioning itself for global expansion into the Middle East, Latin America, and ASEAN markets in the coming months. With the advent of generative AI, KOGO Tech Labs anticipates unveiling cutting-edge technologies on a global scale, setting the stage for a seamless and frictionless travel experience.
