Project Overview

Booked AI is a mobile and web app that helps users plan trips by chatting with an AI-powered travel assistant. It covers everything from travel inspiration and itinerary planning to booking flights and accommodations—replacing traditional travel search flows with a conversational, more intuitive experience. The product is globally accessible and built by an Australia-based startup.

Product Focus

This project began during the first wave of generative AI tools reaching the market, meaning much of the product strategy had to be built from scratch—without clear benchmarks or existing UX patterns. As Product Owner, I led the design and execution of the MVP, balancing user needs, technical feasibility, and fast-shifting AI capabilities.

A core challenge was ensuring the AI behaved in ways that aligned with real user intent. This involved extensive prompt engineering, testing, and refinement to make conversations feel natural, relevant, and functional. We had to continuously adjust how the AI responded, guided user paths, and handled edge cases—especially when handling complex travel requests or multi-step planning.

As the product evolved, I managed several technical pivots and restructured feature timelines. Later, I supported team expansion while keeping delivery focused and product direction intact.

My Role

As Product Owner, I led MVP scoping, feature prioritization, and sprint management across web and mobile. I worked closely with designers and developers to find viable paths for functionality while the AI ecosystem was still rapidly changing.

When the team grew later in the project, I helped onboard new contributors, document decisions clearly, and maintain product alignment across functions. Throughout, I served as the bridge between vision and delivery—guiding decision-making while keeping the product grounded in real user value.

Outcomes

• Successfully launched Booked AI’s MVP across web and mobile during the earliest public wave of AI innovation

• Translated an emerging technology into a usable, real-world product—shaping core features and user flows from scratch

• Drove product traction early, achieving hundreds of downloads within the first few weeks of silent launch

• Contributed to a 300% increase in downloads over six months through continuous iteration, improved UX, and deeper AI integration

• Maintained product clarity and delivery pace through multiple pivots, technical constraints, and team expansion

• Helped establish foundational product processes that supported growth, scale, and onboarding as the team evolved

Key Takeaways

Building Booked AI during the early days of generative AI required constant learning, flexibility, and communication. We weren’t just delivering a product—we were defining what that product could be, in real time, with new tools and unknown user behaviors. It was a true exercise in adaptive product management, cross-functional alignment, and user-centered experimentation.