Use Open-Source AI Templates to Build AI Apps by Metaschool

Building AI apps sounds complex, but what if you could speed up development with ready-to-use templates? Open-source AI templates are game changers for developers whether beginners or experts. They save time, reduce effort, and allow you to focus on innovation instead of starting from scratch.

Here’s why you’ll love using Metaschool’s AI Templates:

• Kickstart Your Development: These templates provide you with complete, pre-built codebases that are ready to be customized. No need to start from scratch; instead, focus on making your app unique.
• Explore a Variety of Use Cases: From language learning to gaming, our templates cater to a diverse range of applications.
• Working Demos Included: Want to see how the app works before diving into the code? Each template includes a working demo to help you understand its functionality.

In this article, we’ll explore how you can leverage open-source AI templates to build functional and user-friendly AI applications. For demonstration, we’ll take a closer look at TripPlannerGPT—a powerful AI-based trip planning tool built with prompts, Next.js, and OpenAI’s GPT model.

TripPlannerGPT

Traveling is exciting, but let’s be honest—planning a trip can quickly become a nightmare. We love solving problems, but when it comes to planning our vacations, hours of researching flights, comparing hotels, and mapping itineraries can leave us more drained than inspired.

That’s exactly why we built TripPlannerGPT — to showcase the immense potential of AI-driven tools in solving real-world problems. By automating the entire trip planning process and delivering personalized itineraries, smart recommendations, and seamless organization, this tool serves as a blueprint for you to build a revenue-generating platform. Tap into the growing demand for smarter travel solutions, create value for users, and turn this opportunity into a profitable venture.

What makes the TripPlannerGPT unique is that it was built entirely using prompts fed into ChatGPT — which means you can too! It demonstrates the incredible potential of using Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT to create fully functional applications with a great user interface using nothing more than well-crafted prompts.

Seamless Itinerary Generation

The goal of TripPlannerGPT lies in its ability to generate highly customized travel itineraries within seconds. By leveraging OpenAI’s GPT models, the tool understands user inputs such as:

• Destination: Choose where you want to go—whether it’s a single city or multiple stops.
• Duration: Specify the number of days you plan to spend traveling.
• Budget: Set a spending limit to ensure cost-effective recommendations.
• Travel Companions: Traveling solo, with friends, or family? TripPlannerGPT tailors the experience based on the group dynamic.

The AI processes these inputs and provides a complete, day-by-day itinerary, including must-visit landmarks, hidden gems, accommodation suggestions, and local dining options.

Curated Travel Recommendations

TripPlannerGPT doesn’t just stop at generating itineraries—it ensures you get the most value out of your trip by offering curated recommendations. Using AI, it filters through millions of options to deliver:

• Attractions: Popular landmarks, cultural experiences, and off-the-beaten-path adventures.
• Restaurants: Dining options tailored to your tastes, from budget-friendly eateries to local delicacies.
• Accommodations: Stay suggestions that align with your budget and preferences, including hotels, hostels, or unique rentals.

These recommendations help eliminate the stress of research and ensure you experience the highlights of your destination.

Interactive Google Map Integration

To make exploration even easier, TripPlannerGPT comes with an integrated Google Maps feature. Travelers can:

• Visualize all recommended attractions, dining options, and accommodations on an interactive map.
• Explore nearby locations with precision, ensuring you don’t miss anything of interest.
• Use the map as a guide during the trip, turning your itinerary into a practical on-the-go tool.

This integration adds another layer of convenience, ensuring users can explore their travel plans visually while accessing essential location details.

Downloadable Itineraries

TripPlannerGPT allows users to download their trip plans as PDFs, making them accessible anytime, anywhere—even without an internet connection. This feature is perfect for travelers who need offline access to their itineraries or want a printable version for reference.

Cost-Efficient Travel Planning

Budget is one of the most significant concerns when planning a trip, and TripPlannerGPT addresses this by offering cost-conscious recommendations. Whether it’s affordable accommodations, free attractions, or economical dining options, the AI ensures users stay within their set budgets while still enjoying a fulfilling travel experience.

How does the TripPlannerGPT work?

TripPlannerGPT offers a fully functional demo to explore. On the main page, you can select your desired destination and travel dates. Once you click the Plan Now button, you’ll be redirected to the login screen, where you can sign in using your email.

After signing in, you’ll land on a screen prompting you to input details such as your budget range, trip duration, and the number of travel companions.

By clicking the Generate Trip Plan button, TripPlannerGPT will create tailored hotel recommendations and a detailed daily itinerary. You also have the option to download your customized trip plan as a PDF for easy access.

Built for Developers: Under the Hood

TripPlannerGPT is not only user-friendly for travelers but also developer-friendly, thanks to its clean and modular architecture. The template is built using modern technologies and tools:

• Next.js and React: Ensure a fast, responsive, and scalable application for both frontend and backend needs.
• OpenAI API: Powers the intelligent itinerary generation with GPT models, delivering human-like and personalized results.
• Clerk Authentication: Provides secure and seamless user sign-in and sign-up options.
• Google Maps Integration: Offers a practical, location-based visualization of travel plans.

The template is ready to use out of the box, with clear documentation for developers to customize and extend its functionality. Whether you want to enhance the AI features, integrate additional APIs, or design a new user interface, TripPlannerGPT serves as a solid foundation for building advanced travel planning tools.

Making the TripPlannerGPT AI Template Your Own!

TripPlannerGPT offers a starting point to help you build a travel planning app, but the real magic happens when you make it your own. You can transform this simple yet functional base into a fully fledged end-to-end product. Whether you want to add advanced personalization, improve the user interface, or integrate additional revenue-generating features, TripPlannerGPT provides the perfect foundation for experimentation and innovation. Use this AI template to build a travel platform that meets user needs while showcasing your creativity and technical skills.

1. Real-Time Updates and Notifications: Keep users informed with live updates on flight statuses, weather conditions, and local events. This feature enhances user experience by providing timely information, ensuring travelers can adjust plans as needed.
2. Social Sharing and Collaboration: Enable users to share their itineraries with friends or travel companions. Collaborative planning features allow multiple users to contribute to a shared trip plan, increasing engagement and expanding your user base through word-of-mouth.
3. In-App Booking Integration: Partner with airlines, hotels, and tour operators to allow users to book services directly through the app. This convenience can generate commission-based revenue and streamline the planning process for users.
4. Premium Features and Subscription Model: Introduce advanced features such as exclusive destination guides, offline access, or personalized travel consultations. Offer these as part of a premium subscription to create a recurring revenue stream.
5. Advertising and Sponsored Content: Incorporate targeted advertisements or sponsored listings from travel service providers. Ensure that ads are relevant and non-intrusive to maintain user satisfaction while generating additional income.
6. User Reviews and Ratings: Allow users to read and contribute reviews and ratings for recommended services and destinations. This builds a community around your app and provides valuable insights for future enhancements.
7. Multi-Language Support: Expand your user base by offering support for multiple languages, making the app accessible to a global audience.
8. AI-Powered Chat Support: Implement an AI-driven chatbot to assist users with queries, provide travel tips, and offer real-time support during their trips.

Monetization Strategies

• Commission-Based Model: Earn commissions on bookings made through in-app partnerships with travel service providers.
• Subscription Model: Offer premium features through a subscription service, providing users with enhanced capabilities and exclusive content.
• In-App Purchases: Provide optional add-ons or premium content within the app for an additional cost.
• Advertising: Generate revenue through in-app advertisements, ensuring they are relevant to the user to maintain engagement.

By incorporating these features and monetization strategies, TripPlannerGPT can offer a comprehensive, user-friendly experience that stands out in the competitive travel app market, while also creating multiple revenue streams to ensure profitability.

How to Get Started?

Local Setup

Setting up TripPlannerGPT locally is quick and straightforward. Follow these steps to get started:

1. Download the Project
   Click the download button to save a zipped file of the entire project to your PC. Extract the folder to a desired location.
2. Open the Project in VS Code
   Launch Visual Studio Code (VS Code), navigate to the File menu, select Open Folder, and choose the extracted project folder. Alternatively, you can also clone the repository using this command:
   git clone https://github.com/0xmetaschool/TripPlannerGPT.git
3. Install Dependencies
   Open the terminal within VS Code and run the following command to install the required dependencies: npm install
4. Set Up Environment Variables
   Create a new .env file in the root directory and add the API keys and credentials for the following environment variables:
   • NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_PUBLISHABLE_KEY=
   • CLERK_SECRET_KEY=
   • NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_SIGN_IN_URL=
   • NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_SIGN_UP_URL=
   • OPENAI_API_KEY=
   • NEXT_PUBLIC_PEXELS_API_KEY=
5. Run the Development Server
   Start the development server by running the following command in the terminal: npm run dev
6. Access the Application
   Open your browser and navigate to http://localhost:3000 to view the app running locally.

With these simple steps, you can fully explore and customize the TripPlannerGPT template on your local setup!

Work From Your Browser

Prefer not to work locally? No problem! Simply click the VS Code button highlighted above, and it will launch GitHub Codespaces directly in your browser. After connecting it to your GitHub account, you’ll have a fully functional development environment ready to go—no setup required.

Do note, however, that cloud usage with GitHub Codespaces incurs additional charges, so make sure to review the pricing details before diving in. It’s a hassle-free way to start building, right from your browser!

Contribution

We believe that the best projects are built collaboratively, and your contributions can help make TripPlannerGPT even better! Whether you have ideas for new features, want to improve the UI, or enhance the app’s functionality, we’d love to see your input. Contributing is easy—just follow these steps:

1. Fork the Repository
   Clone your own copy of the project by forking it.
   Use this command: gh repo fork https://github.com/0xmetaschool/TripPlannerGPT/fork
2. Create a Feature Branch
   Work on your changes in a dedicated branch.
   Create one with: git checkout -b feature/AmazingFeature
3. Commit Your Changes
   Once you’ve made your modifications, commit them with a clear message: git commit -m 'Add some AmazingFeature'
4. Push Your Changes
   Upload your branch to your forked repository: git push origin feature/AmazingFeature
5. Open a Pull Request
   Submit your branch for review by creating a pull request on the main repository.

You can also use the Fork button on the TripPlannerGPT page (marked above) to fork the repo. You just have to sign in using your GitHub account.

By contributing, you’ll not only help improve TripPlannerGPT but also gain valuable experience collaborating on open-source projects. Join our community of developers and make your mark on this innovative AI travel planning platform!

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