Human-centered AI for inclusive tourism: enhancing travel planning for adults with autism spectrum disorder

Travel experiences can challenge individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) before embarking on a trip, because of the complexity of planning, but also during the trip, due to sensory overstimulation while visiting places. Artificial Intelligence (AI) could help overcome some obstacles. However, it might represent a barrier for people with mid-functioning autism if their needs for assistance are not considered when designing tourism applications. Moreover, most trip planners fully control the generation of solutions, undermining users’ decision autonomy. To address these challenges, we explored the development of itinerary planning technologies through a human-centered approach. We aimed to balance guiding users in their decision-making with empowering them to plan tours independently. The result is CARES, an Artificial Intelligence-driven trip planner designed for autistic adults, which we present in this article. CARES applies a collaborative approach to developing itineraries, based on the exploitation of (i) AI technologies for information filtering and interactive itinerary planning that are robust to the data scarcity characterizing the autism domain; (ii) a user interface that reduces information overload and decision fatigue in information exploration. We tested CARES with 14 autistic adults, gathering insights to guide future design and improve the usability of Artificial Intelligence for neurodivergent users. The results indicate that our approach provides an accessible solution for enhancing the travel experiences of mid- to high-functioning autistic adults. In doing so, it contributes to more inclusive tourism. • We found that, despite difficulties, autistic adults wish to plan trips autonomously. • We propose a Human-Centered AI trip planner for mid/high-functioning ASD users. • Step-by-step guidance helps autistic users plan trips with limited effort. • The app empowers users to make choices while AI guides the process, ensuring balanced control. • The app balances user guidance and decision-making control.