Nancy Li Smith has spent decades at the cutting edge of artificial intelligence and technology, helping shape the digital experiences that defined the last generation. From pioneering work at BrightAI to building immersive systems at Meta and Microsoft, her career has been rooted in innovation. She even holds a patent for one of the earliest voice-driven multimodal systems for AR and VR headsets — technology that helped lay the foundation for the metaverse.
Building on this experience, Nancy is now applying her deep expertise to real-world experiences. Her work in virtual and augmented realities offered unparalleled insight into human behavior, personalization, and digital interaction — insights she’s now bringing to travel. The result is Boop.AI, an AI-powered travel platform designed to make planning trips spontaneous, social, and deeply personal.
Boop allows users to copy, customize, and book itineraries inspired by friends’ recommendations. Its AI goes beyond generic suggestions, learning each user’s “travel DNA” to create itineraries that match individual tastes, budgets, and social circles. From hidden cafés in Paris to late-night street food in Bangkok or a secret hiking trail in the Rockies, Boop curates experiences that feel handpicked.
Boop’s early traction has been reinforced by an impressive group of investors. The company raised $3.2 million in pre-seed funding, co-led by Bling Capital and BBG Ventures, with participation from a strong roster of founders and operators who believe in Nancy’s vision for a more intuitive, socially driven travel experience. The platform has also attracted support from industry heavyweights, including Tripadvisor co-founder and former CEO Stephen Kaufer and former Marriott International president Stephanie Linnartz.
Nancy founded Boop to tackle what she calls “travel planning paralysis.” Most travelers spend hours researching trips, juggling endless options, and trying to translate friends’ recommendations into actionable plans. Many also feel the social value of these tips is lost — great advice is shared, but rarely actionable. Boop bridges that gap.
“Boop is the first AI travel companion that’s built on social trust,” Smith said. “The moment you start going on a trip and start exploring and roaming around, Boop basically remembers your trip in the background, so all your stops, your photos, your reservations, and in the background turns this into a beautiful, shoppable itinerary that friends can now actually use.”
Starting later this year, Boop will introduce a monetization feature allowing users to earn when others book trips inspired by their recommendations. This forthcoming model blends social commerce, AI personalization, and community trust — turning real-world travel expertise into a new kind of creator economy. By giving everyday travelers the ability to share and eventually earn from their itineraries, Boop is elevating the value of authentic experiences and social credibility.
Nancy’s journey from enterprise AI to consumer travel is a story of evolution rather than departure. Her career in tech was spent building tools for simulated realities, yet she felt a growing desire to use technology to enhance lived experiences. With Boop, she’s reframing that relationship. The platform doesn’t just save time — it encourages spontaneity, discovery, and genuine connection. “Instead of planning from scratch — which is like a weeks-long process — you can now just copy your friends’ real Tokyo or Paris trip itinerary. And in one tap, you can chat with AI and in minutes be able to personalize it to make it your own.”
The invite-only launch of Boop has already sparked excitement among early users drawn to its social-first approach. The platform emphasizes trusted recommendations, ease of use, and highly personalized planning, making travel feel less stressful and more intuitive. Early adopters are getting a glimpse of how AI can elevate not just trip planning, but the overall joy of exploration.
By bridging AI, social recommendations, and soon-to-come monetization, Nancy Li Smith is positioning herself as a thought leader in a new category of travel. Boop is not just a tool; it’s a vision for the future of exploration — one where technology enhances connection, spontaneity, and shared human experiences. For travelers seeking an effortless, social, and deeply personal way to plan their next adventure, Boop offers a glimpse of what’s possible when innovation meets real-world insight.
Spencer Hulse is the Editorial Director at Grit Daily. He is responsible for overseeing other editors and writers, day-to-day operations, and covering breaking news.
