Booking Holdings CEO warns of AI human cost and data risks

Booking Holdings CEO Glenn Fogel has warned of a ‘human cost’ associated with the rise of artificial intelligence, noting that the technology could lead to ‘rough waters’ for certain employment sectors. To prepare the workforce, Fogel has directed that every employee become ‘AI literate’ to ensure they remain employable even if their current roles become obsolete.

While some executives view AI as a tool to increase output without changing headcount, Fogel anticipates significant shifts, suggesting that sectors like investment banking may see a reduction in entry-level hiring.

Separately, industry experts and aviation data tracker OAG warn that AI may exacerbate existing data quality issues within the travel sector. Rather than cleaning up messy information such as shifting flight schedules and pricing, AI risks spreading errors more rapidly. Experts caution that feeding inaccurate data into AI systems can lead to ‘expensive, confident disorder,’ where a single error is instantly replicated across thousands of automated itineraries.