When we decided to embark on a day of exploration in our home cities of London and New York, we turned to an AI-powered local discovery chatbot called Littlefoot. Created by Bigfoot, a startup founded by former Airbnb executives, Littlefoot promised to generate the perfect itinerary for us. However, our experience with the chatbot left much to be desired.
Despite providing our starting points, dates, and preferences, Littlefoot’s recommendations were often wildly inaccurate and impractical. From suggesting niche activities like climbing a hill in South East London to vague ideas such as visiting the London Zoo with no further instructions, the chatbot seemed to lack a basic understanding of what would interest us. Moreover, it repeatedly recommended the same attractions, raising suspicions of paid-for advertising.
In addition to flawed recommendations, Littlefoot’s map function also displayed incorrect locations for suggested destinations in London. This issue, according to Bigfoot, is currently being addressed as the company receives user feedback and refines its platform. While Bigfoot acknowledges the challenges associated with being an early-stage startup, it is committed to improving the accuracy of its itineraries in the near future.
Despite undergoing testing with alpha users and receiving feedback, Littlefoot’s features still appear to be heavily dependent on the user-provided location and phrasing of preferences. As a result, users may not always receive relevant or practical recommendations for their day out in the city. Bigfoot’s goal is to continue refining its platform and enhancing the user experience as it acquires more resources and grows as a company.
My own day planned by Littlefoot centered around a sporting village in London proved to be a disappointment. From inaccurate restaurant opening times to a less-than-thrilling experience at the venue, it became clear that relying solely on AI for itinerary planning may not always result in a satisfying day out. Despite the chatbot’s best efforts, human intervention and common sense are still crucial in ensuring a successful and enjoyable day of exploration.
While AI-powered chatbots like Littlefoot may hold promise for simplifying the process of planning activities in unfamiliar cities, they still have a long way to go in terms of accuracy and personalization. As technology continues to advance, it is essential for developers to address the limitations and flaws of these platforms to provide users with truly valuable and relevant recommendations. Until then, it might be wise to approach AI-generated itineraries with a healthy dose of skepticism and a backup plan in hand.
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