OpenAI’s “Operator” and DeepSeek: Marking two auspicious moments in AI

For those celebrating the Lunar New Year, we hope you’ve had a festive week so far - and what a week it has been! Just when you think AI evolution couldn’t get any faster, the company behind ChatGPT, OpenAI , announced Operator, before being one-upped by China’s DeepSeek, which has shaken up the AI race - and the US stock market - by releasing an open-source large-language model that cost a fraction of what tech giants spend on their AI. DeepSeek AI ’s model outperformed AI at Meta 's Llama 3.1 and OpenAI’s GPT-4o in several benchmarks.

While the media tends to tackle AI-related issues with a more dystopian lens, it’s crucial to remember that AI isn’t new, it has helped us greatly in the last couple of decades, and while it’s good to remain vigilant, these advancements can also be seen as momentous, exciting shifts in the world.

Filip Filipov , COO of OAG , called it “the biggest travel shift” since online travel began. “In a year from now, we can imagine how not only your credit card will be held by OpenAI, but it will consistently take your travel history into account before making recommendations,” he said. Meanwhile, Rajnish Kumar , Group Co-CEO of ixigo , believes Operator could become “the next major distribution channel in travel,” forcing OTAs to rethink their business models.

However, Brett Henry , CEO of MG Group , advises small travel businesses to hold off on investing in AI for now. “No, just let everybody else go and spend their money on that, and you keep doing the basics well,” he said. For now, the AI revolution is happening, but its long-term impact on the industry remains to be seen.

The Year of the Snake is all about opportunity - shedding one’s skin in exchange for betterment and growth. And that transformation is exactly what we discussed with Kenny Jacobs , Group CEO of daa (Dublin and Cork Airport Authority), on the second episode of Future Lanes, a no-fluff podcast powered by Meili .

Airports are no longer just transit hubs; they’re transforming into commercial powerhouses. As Jacobs puts it simply: “For me, an airport is a runway with a supermarket attached.” With non-aeronautical revenue streams like lounges, retail, and parking playing a crucial role, Dublin Airport is doubling its lounge capacity and introducing a wider variety of dining options, including sushi and an Italian food quarter. Retail is also taking center stage, with Jacobs pushing for more direct-to-consumer sales through the Dublin Airport app. “I want to give a really good go at what we did at Ryanair in terms of really increasing the ancillary revenue,” he said. The vision is to create a seamless experience where travelers can purchase add-ons like Fast Track and lounge access directly through the app, making it a one-stop shop for all airport services.

Shifting gears, we also spoke with Hannah Pearson Director at Pear Anderson , about the recent ASEAN Tourism Forum that was held in Malaysia, where key strategies like sustainability, AI-driven innovation, and regional collaboration took center stage. Pearson highlighted that sustainability and greenwashing regulations in the EU are set to impact the ASEAN tourism industry soon, creating a ripple effect throughout the sector. "Companies who are already transparent around their carbon emissions and have frameworks in place, are the ones which are going to thrive," Pearson added.

The forum also saw discussions about the evolving role of Online Travel Agencies (OTAs). “The biggest challenge for travel players is figuring out the right distribution channels, particularly for smaller hotels,” Pearson noted. AI also emerged as a hot topic. "SMEs are almost better placed to experiment with AI due to their size, and being able to adapt more nimbly to the new tools that are being developed," Pearson reflected, signalling a shift towards more agile technology adoption in tourism.

For more news on travel tech in Asia, visit www.webintravel.com

We’re beyond excited for our first event of 2025 – WiT Africa in beautiful Cape Town, South Africa. Get your tickets and join the conversation!

Have a good weekend, everyone!