Content creator Manthan Jethwani recently demonstrated how OpenAI's GPT-6 Astra can handle train ticket bookings through India's official railway platform, IRCTC. According to reports from NDTV Profit, Jethwani tested the AI assistant by asking it to find a train from Mumbai to Rajkot and complete most of the booking steps. The demonstration was prompted by a comment on one of his reels about GPT-6 Astra, where someone specifically asked if the AI could book train tickets through IRCTC. Since IRCTC is a government-run website, Jethwani was initially unsure whether the AI would be able to use it properly, so he decided to test it himself by opening ChatGPT Astra and entering the journey details, stations and date. As per NDTV Profit, Jethwani tested the AI for two to three days before attempting the IRCTC booking process.
As reported by NDTV Profit, Jethwani entered detailed journey specifications including Mumbai to Rajkot travel for September 20 between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. for two people in AC class. The AI assistant successfully navigated the IRCTC booking process through the browser, entering departure and destination stations, selecting the travel date, and searching for trains based on the specified time and class. According to the video, Astra found trains that matched the requirements but the available seats were on the waiting list. The AI then asked Jethwani what he wanted to do next, with the creator noting that the only thing left for him to do was make the payment. According to NDTV Profit, the demonstration video generated significant user engagement with many suggesting more challenging tests for AI capabilities.
According to NDTV Profit, the demonstration video generated significant user engagement with many suggesting more challenging tests for AI capabilities. A user commented about testing the AI in IRCTC's Tatkal booking system, where tickets get booked within minutes due to high demand, with someone writing "Try it in Tatkal and I will agree that AI will replace all of us." Another user suggested testing the AI with job applications, writing about submitting resumes and applying for real positions. However, several users focused on payment security concerns, raising questions about what could happen if AI systems are given access to sensitive financial information. Booking a train ticket can feel like a stressful chore, especially when racing against the clock before tickets sell out, with users noting that navigating clunky interfaces and remembering login details is a lot of work.
