Online marketplaces are flooded with AI-generated guidebooks by “authors” publishing dozens of titles across unrelated destinations. One travel writer, for example, has published guides to New York City, Hawaii, Miami, Glacier National Park, Bali, Switzerland, and the list goes on. All by the same guy! This is an implausible feat—unless your name is Rick Steves (who has a huge staff).
On top of it, errors abound—from mislabeled landmarks to completely invented attractions. As Wired reporter Kerry Tomlinson has noted, some guides misidentify major landmarks or fabricate destinations entirely. In one New York guide, for example, the photo of the 9/11 Memorial is actually a historic temple in Cambodia.
While these guidebooks may not steal money directly, they exploit the same AI tools to impersonate expertise—and can quietly cost travelers time, trust, and safety.
How to Protect Yourself: Check author credentials, spot-check facts, and stick with established guidebook publishers (like, ahem, Fodor’s Travel guidebooks) and regional experts.
