Google’s New AI Tool, U.S. Visa Scrutiny and UK Rail Fare Hikes

For today’s pod, we look at yet another AI improvement for Google‘s travel products, more foreign visa scrutiny in the US, and what high train fares mean for climate change.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Friday, August 22. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Google has launched a feature called Magic Cue for its Pixel 10 phones that makes it easier to surface airline and hotel information, reports Executive Editor Dennis Schaal.

Magic Cue, which is available exclusively on Pixel 10 phones, uses AI to comb through apps, emails, and screenshots. Schaal writes the feature might come in handy when contacting an airline or hotel about a booking, or when a friend asks when your flight arrives.

One example Google gave: If you need to call an airline to rebook a flight, you can quickly find the flight number while on the call.

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Next, the U.S. State Department confirmed that all 55 million foreigners with valid U.S. visas are now subject to continuous vetting, writes Managing Editor Lex Harris. The Department confirmed that it will monitor law enforcement records, immigration data, and even social media for potential violations such as overstays, criminal activity, or ties to terrorism.

This is part of the Trump administration’s existing border policy, that has tightened entry procedures and already led to a sharp increase in revoked visas, in addition to executive orders restricting entry from certain countries. Additional measures under consideration include expanding travel restrictions to more countries and introducing a $250 “integrity fee” for visas.

Finally, British officials view rail travel as a key part of the United Kingdom’s strategy to cut aviation emissions, but fare hikes could hinder progress toward climate goals, writes Climate Reporter Darin Graham.

Graham notes rail’s cost advantage over flying all but disappears if train fares rise faster than inflation. And that prices consumers out of lower-emission travel.

Whether air travel is cheaper than rail depends heavily on timing and how far in advance tickets are booked. But for last-minute trips, rail often loses out.