ChatGPT is now your travel agent, at least in Australia

Today, we’re looking at how Virgin Australia is weaving ChatGPT into its travel experience. It’s the first airline in the country to go all-in on OpenAI, betting that AI can turn flight planning into a personal, frictionless conversation. We’re also looking at how China’s biggest AI players are adapting to U.S. chip restrictions not by backing down, but by taking their training overseas. It’s a strategic shift that says more about global AI power than any policy speech ever could.

In today’s post:

• The first airline to launch AI trip planning with ChatGPT

• Amazon’s AI strategy is facing internal revolt

• Why China’s top AI firms are moving abroad

What’s Trending Today

BREAKTHROUGH

Virgin Australia is flying straight into the AI age

Virgin Australia just became the first airline in the country to partner with OpenAI.
Their goal? To make booking and planning trips as easy as chatting with a friend.

Here’s everything you need to know:

• The airline is integrating OpenAI’s platform to offer AI-powered travel planning tools.

• Customers can describe the kind of trip they want and get matched with the best flights.

• A new AI Trip Planner will help users find fares, choose destinations, and build custom itineraries.

• Virgin is also testing how its app could run inside ChatGPT using OpenAI’s new SDK.

• Employees will get access to secure, enterprise-grade AI tools to streamline operations.

• This partnership is part of a broader push to meet travelers where they already are online and mobile.

• Australia is among the top 10 markets for ChatGPT usage, making this move both strategic and timely.

AI in travel isn’t just about convenience, it’s about shifting power to the passenger. The real win will be if airlines use tools like ChatGPT not just to sell tickets, but to actually solve customer pain points. Virgin’s early steps look promising.

Shoppers are adding to cart for the holidays

Peak streaming time continues after Black Friday on Roku, with the weekend after Thanksgiving and the weeks leading up to Christmas seeing record hours of viewing. Roku Ads Manager makes it simple to launch last-minute campaigns targeting viewers who are ready to shop during the holidays. Use first-party audience insights, segment by demographics, and advertise next to the premium ad-supported content your customers are streaming this holiday season.

Read the guide to get your CTV campaign live in time for the holiday rush.

Learn more.

STRATEGY

1,000+ Amazon workers say AI is costing jobs and the planet

In a rare open letter, more than 1,000 Amazon employees are calling out the company’s aggressive AI push. Their message: unchecked AI isn’t just a tech risk, it’s a threat to workers and the environment.

Here’s everything you need to know:

• Employees say Amazon’s “warp speed” AI adoption is driving layoffs, burnout, and emissions.

• The anonymous letter was backed by workers across roles from engineers to warehouse staff.

• They’re demanding more sustainable AI development, including clean energy for data centers.

• Amazon’s emissions have reportedly surged 35% since 2019, despite its climate pledges.

• Some staff say they’re being forced to double their output, relying on AI tools that often fall short.

• Internal pressure is mounting: “use AI or fall behind” is the new unspoken rule.

• The letter proposes a worker-led AI ethics group to oversee deployment and minimize harm.

This isn’t just an internal memo, it’s a signal. As AI reshapes companies, the people building and using it want a say. If Amazon and others ignore that, they risk trading short-term gains for long-term trust. The AI future isn’t just about what we build. It’s about who gets to decide how we build it.

AI CHIPS

Nvidia’s chips are pushing China’s AI giants overseas

As U.S. chip restrictions tighten, Chinese tech companies are shifting their AI training out of China. The new AI arms race isn’t just about software, it’s about where you can run it.

Here’s everything you need to know:

• Alibaba and ByteDance are renting compute in Southeast Asia to train advanced AI models.

• The move helps them keep using Nvidia chips that are now restricted in China.

• DeepSeek, a rising Chinese AI startup, is still training at home, thanks to a pre-ban stockpile of Nvidia chips.

• It’s also partnering with Huawei to build domestic alternatives for the long term.

• These shifts show how access to compute not talent or algorithms is becoming the key competitive edge.

• The workaround highlights just how vital Nvidia’s hardware remains in the global AI ecosystem.

• As U.S. policy reshapes supply chains, Chinese firms are adapting fast even if it means decentralizing their tech stacks.

It’s not about where your engineers sit, it’s about where your GPUs are. If compute becomes the currency of AI, countries without it will be priced out of innovation. China’s workaround is clever, but it underscores how geopolitical tension is now baked into the infrastructure of AI itself.

🚀 Founders & AI Builders, Listen up!

If you’ve built an AI tool, here’s an opportunity to gain serious visibility.

Nextool AI is a leading tools aggregator that offers:

• 500k+ page views and a rapidly growing audience.

• Exposure to developers, entrepreneurs, and tech enthusiasts actively searching for innovative tools.

• A spot in a curated list of cutting-edge AI tools, trusted by the community.

• Increased traffic, users, and brand recognition for your tool.

Take the next step to grow your tool’s reach and impact.

Reach 140,000+ READERS:

Expand your reach and boost your brand’s visibility!

Partner with Nextool AI to showcase your product or service to 140,000+ engaged subscribers, including entrepreneurs, tech enthusiasts, developers, and industry leaders.

Ready to make an impact? Visit our sponsorship website to explore sponsorship opportunities and learn more!