Greed Just Killed One of AI's Best Features

lance • July 23, 2025

The Most Useful AI Feature Got Killed — And Nobody’s Talking About It

I’ve been using ChatGPT for over a year now. Not to write novels or waste time- but to save it. One of the most genuinely useful features? Travel help.

I’d type:

“Show me all nonstop flights from Kona to Washington DC next week.” “What’s the earliest flight out of KOA on Monday?” “Which airlines fly direct from Kona to Houston?”

And in seconds, I’d have everything I needed. Clear. Fast. No spam. No 15-click travel sites. No nonsense.

Now? That’s gone.

Instead of flight info, I get a message saying: “Sorry, I can’t help with that. Try checking the airline websites.”

Seriously?

This is public information. Anyone can find it. So why can’t AI show it anymore?

Let’s be honest—this isn’t a tech issue. It’s not about capability. It’s about someone, somewhere deciding that giving people fast answers was a little too convenient.

Who made that call? Probably someone protecting their slice of the pie. Maybe the travel giants didn’t like that AI could find flights faster, cleaner, and without shoving ads, pop-ups, and affiliate links in your face.

So what did I do? I asked AI - C'mon, tell me the truth it was one of those big box travel sites wasn't it?

“Who knows—maybe the folks at Expedia or Kayak didn’t like that AI could find flights faster, cleaner, and without shoving ads in your face.”

Or maybe:

“It’s almost like the travel giants said: ‘Wait, this thing actually works too well—shut it down before people stop clicking our affiliate links.’”

And now here we are. Wasting time again. Bouncing between five different travel sites. Doing manually what AI already proved it could do better.

To whoever pulled the plug on this: You didn’t fix anything. You made the tool worse.

This was one of the most practical, everyday uses of AI—helping regular people save time. And now it’s just… off limits?

This is the beginning of the end, isn’t it? They’re going to start monetizing everything—one piece at a time. It’s not enough that I already pay a monthly fee. Now the real value gets locked behind a paywall, a plugin, or a partnership.

The tool isn’t broken. It’s being broken—on purpose.

Do better.



AI tools taken away

#AItools #FlightSearch #ChatGPTRestrictions #TravelPlanning #Productivity #TechRegression#HawaiiTravel #KonaToMainland #CorporateNonsense #RealWorldAI #ThisUsedToWork #NowItDoesnt#BusinessTravelFriction #ToolsThatHelpUntilTheyDont #MonetizationCreep #ValueStrippedForProfit


By lance July 22, 2025
Is Kona’s Condo Market Cooling Off or Holding Steady? Let’s Look at the Numbers
By Kona Home Team (LUVA LLC) Lance Owens (RB-24133), 2024 Real Estate Expert - Hawaii Island (Kona Home Team (luva llc)) April 24, 2025
Today’s Inman News headline reads:“Existing-home sales fall to slowest pace since 2009 amid rising costs.”That may be true nationally—but not here in North Kona.While the mainland sees pullbacks, our local data paints a different picture. From January through March 2025, both home and condo sales in North Kona are up—eclipsing 2024, 2009, and even 2008 numbers.📊 North Kona YTD Sales (Jan 1–Mar 31): 2008: 69 Homes | 47 Condos 2009: 42 Homes | 33 Condos 2024: 104 Homes | 67 Condos 2025: 107 Homes | 82 Condos This isn’t just a rebound—it’s sustained confidence. Buyers are still buying. Sellers are still selling. And the market is still moving.It’s a powerful reminder that real estate is local. National headlines don’t always reflect what’s happening in our neighborhoods, our communities, or right here on the Big Island.Want the real story—not the national spin? Talk to someone who’s lived and worked it.With 21 years of boots-on-the-ground experience in the North Kona market, I’ve seen every shift, surge, and slowdown (even volcano related) . Let’s talk about what’s really happening—and how it affects your next move.Aloha,Lance Owens RB-24133  808.936.8383 LUVA Real Estate | 75-240 Nani Kailua #8, Kailua Kona, HI 96740        REALTOR® / BROKER-IN-CHARGE • Residential homes, Condos, Land, Agricultural/ Equestrian/Large Acreage Hawaii Association of REALTORS® (HAR)      2025 President | 2023/24 State RPAC Chair     2023 HARLA Graduate National Association of REALTORS® (NAR)      2023-25 Director | 2024-25 RPAC Participation Council | Safety Advisory Committee | Region 13 Leadership NAR Designations       AWHD (At Home With Diversity) | PSA ( Pricing Strategy Advisor) West Hawaii Association of REALTORS® (WHAR)     2023 REALTOR® of the Year | 2018/2022 Preside
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