Sydney pair’s plan to fight back against AI and fake travel reviews

Artificial intelligence has changed the game when it comes to what we can trust on the internet. And these Aussies think they’ve fixed a big problem.

With many fearing the rise of artificial intelligence is going to negatively affect their jobs and threaten their businesses, two men from Sydney see disdain for AI as exactly what their business needs to thrive.

Michael Canning and Justin Drape thought they may have been crazy when they launched a travel app during Covid and are thrilled they made it to the other side.

Now, they believe the rise in AI and ChatGPT will actually have travellers turning to them just at the right time.

Exceptional ALIEN co-founders Michael Canning and Justin Drape.

The refer to their app, named Exceptional ALIEN, as like Spotify playlists for the travel industry.

And while more and more tech is becoming “powered by AI”, they say their app is “powered by community”.

On the app travellers can find “Travel Playbooks” curated by “exceptional creators” including Grammy Award winners, Michelin star chefs and Olympic gold medallists.

“They give you at least five travel gems they recommend like an art gallery, great place to eat, a park or a great place to shop,” Mr Drape told news.com.au.

The key detail, he says, is that they are recommendations you can trust.

“Anyone making recommendations is putting their name and reputation against that recommendation … You can’t get that from AI,” he said.

Public figures create “Travel Playbooks” on the app and give their recommendations.

Google removed or blocked over 115 million fake reviews in 2022, while TripAdvisor identified 1.3 million reviews as fake.

“Some people are turning up to a venue that doesn’t even exist because they’re being pranked. It’s crazy and absolutely devastating for the traveller,” he said.

He said with the current cost of living “people are time poor and money poor” and can’t afford to not have a memorable holiday.

Mick Fanning and Flight Facilities are among Australians on the app, while globally there is musician Ny Oh – real name Naomi Ludlow – who has toured with Harry Styles.

“For her to give her travel playbook of Los Angeles is a really good example of being recommended experience by someone really amazing at what they do and tapped in culturally,” Mr Drape said.

Adele Lim, the screenwriter of Crazy Rich Asians, is another notable mention.

“You can’t just call up in demand Hollywood directors but this is the next best thing,” he said.

Mr Drape and Mr Canning have a capital raise on the Birchal equity crowd-funding platform to expand Exceptional ALIEN’s tech capabilities and global network of experiences.

Mr Drape said they currently feature Travel Playbooks in 23 countries and aim for that to be more than 50 by the end of 2024.

He said they had already reached their minimum target of $300,000 and are “confident more will come”.

The pair said Exceptional ALIEN’s revenue in the 2023 financial year increased by 400 per cent year-on-year, with a similar growth trajectory expected for the 2024 financial year “driven by a number of commercial opportunities overseas”.