Self-driving tourism: The natural endpoint for AVs for leisure
For years, tourism entrepreneur and CEO of Autoura, Alex Bainbridge, has been urging the UK to concede the self-driving engineering race and focus on the business opportunity.
An expert in customer experience and key member of The Self-Driving Industry Awards judging panel, we thought it was high time for an update.
Alex, tell us about Autoura’s vision for self-driving tourism
In conversations about autonomous vehicles, it’s easy to get caught up in robotaxis, last-mile logistics and urban commuting. But what happens when autonomy is personal and you fancy a getaway? Parts of this future are already here.
Today, if a family wants to visit Stonehenge from London, they might join a coach tour. Those seeking a more personalised experience might book a private tour, typically involving an executive car with a professional driver. Spend a bit more, and that driver may also serve as a guide.
We at Autoura, in collaboration with Bespoke England Tours, are developing a new kind of private tour, where the guiding role is handled by an AI tour guide. It’s a hybrid model, for now, a revenue-focused concept which prepares us for a near-term future when the driver role is removed altogether.
And you’ve got a revenue-generating transitional model ready to go?
Yes. Leisure journeys are different in that people demand interaction, an experience. Our guests ride in a premium vehicle, with our AI tour guide providing the backstory, answering questions and bringing the ancient stones to life. Our approach is designed as a three-stage progression:
1) Car + driver-guide: The traditional premium model. Human expertise in the seat beside you.
2) Car + driver + AI tour guide: Our current product. A real-world blend of autonomy and automation.
3) Autonomous car + AI tour guide: The natural endpoint for a privately owned AV used for leisure.
This minimum viable product offers everything but the self-driving car itself. Crucially, it prepares the user experience for when that final component arrives.
Stonehenge is not just iconic, it’s the perfect place to test. The drive from London is about two hours, mostly on motorways. The experience on-site is sequentially structured, making it ideal for AI-guided tourism. There are so many exciting possibilities, and we’re proud to be leading the AV tourism revolution.
For more from Alex, and others, on the rise of AI in tour guiding, check out the new Cyborguide blog site.
