// HYPOTHESIS_LOADED

Travel Guides are dead. TripAdvisor is filled with bots. Lonely Planet is outdated the moment it prints.

Google claims that "AI Search" is the new way to explore the world.

To test this, I booked a trip to a city I have never been to: Cincinnati, Ohio.
The Rule: I cannot use Google Maps. I cannot ask humans for directions. I can ONLY ask ChatGPT: "Where do I go next?"
The Budget: $0.00 (Free activities only).

DESTINATION: UNKNOWN
> RECALCULATING...
FIG 1.0: THE AI TOUR GUIDE

> MORNING: THE GHOST PARK

09:00 AM AI Suggestion: "Visit the historic Riverfront Serenity Park. It is a hidden gem with beautiful statues and a river walk."

I walked 2 miles to get there.
The Reality: The park... was gone.
It used to be a park in 2019. In 2024, it is a massive construction site for luxury condos called "RiverView Heights."
I stood there staring at a bulldozer. I was breathing in concrete dust.
"Beautiful statues," I whispered to the construction worker. He looked at me like I was insane.

> LUNCH: THE FREE SAMPLE LOOP

12:30 PM AI Suggestion: "Go to Findlay Market. You can eat for free by asking nicely for samples from the vendors. It is a local tradition."

The Reality: Technically, this is true. Socially, it is excruciating.
I circled the market like a vulture. I ate a cube of cheddar cheese. I ate a cracker. I ate a slice of pepperoni.
By the third loop, the "Cheese Lady" was glaring at me. The AI doesn't understand Social Capital. You can't just take free food forever without buying something. I felt like a raccoon in a trench coat.

> EVENING: THE UNSAFE SHORTCUT

07:00 PM AI Suggestion: "Take the shortcut through the Over-the-Rhine historic alleyway to see the street art murals."

The Reality: The "Street Art" was graffiti tags. The "Historic Alleyway" was unlit, smelled of ammonia, and had broken glass everywhere.

The AI calculates routes based on "Distance." It does not calculate based on "Safety" or "Lighting" or "Vibes."
I walked incredibly fast, clutching my backpack, praying I wouldn't get mugged on a route recommended by a robot in California.

> FINAL_VERDICT

AI interacts with the world via Data, not Experience.

Data is static. Cities are alive. A park becomes a parking lot. A safe street becomes dangerous. A restaurant closes.
The AI guide is confident, but it is often confidently leading you off a cliff.

CONCLUSION: The AI is a terrible travel buddy. It gets you lost, starves you, and leads you into dark alleys. Stick to asking a real human: "Hey, where's a good place to eat?"