Amadeus is taking a minority stake in generative AI startup Acai Travel, an investment the company said would add to its own development of AI solutions.
The investment, the financial terms of which were not disclosed, will "accelerate our mission to reduce operational costs and enhance the traveler experience across the travel ecosystem," according to Acai Travel cofounder and CEO Riccardo Vittoria. The company focuses both on developing "AI-first infrastructure" for travelers and AI agents that work with human agents to add efficiencies and cut costs, he said.
Acai already is working with online travel agencies and travel management companies—including Australian TMC Platinum Travel Group, which said the technology has improved agent response times by 50 percent—and "will begin working with airlines soon," according to Vittoria.
For Amadeus, the investment is a means of "equipping Amadeus to exploit the significant opportunities presented by generative AI," Suzanna Chiu, head of Amadeus Ventures, said in a statement. "We continue to partner with innovative startups and remain open to new propositions across the entire value chain."