I built a web app that creates AI audio tour guides for any location you choose. Let me tell you exactly how it works and why I made it.
The app pulls in mapping data from OpenStreetMap and scans for Wikipedia articles tagged within 0-6 miles of your location. It then uses GPT-4o-mini to transform those articles into natural, flowing tour guide narration. OpenAI’s text-to-speech brings the narration to life with realistic audio.
Basically, you get an expert local tour guide in your pocket, no matter where you end up. The app can tell you the history and significance of buildings, landmarks, parks – anything that has a Wikipedia article tied to that spot.
One of the best parts is you can customize the experience. Maybe you only care about historical sites, or you want to focus on architecture. The app lets you pick what interests you most.
I built this because I love exploring new places but often feel like I’m missing the deeper stories and context that make locations fascinating. Reading Wikipedia articles while walking around works okay, but it breaks the immersion. Having a voice guide you through the space creates a much more natural experience.
The app needs an OpenAI API key to work since it relies on their AI models. If you want to try it out, send me a message on LinkedIn and I’ll share the files. I’m excited to see how people use it in different locations.
For more on AI tools and development, check out my post on ChatGPT’s new mentions feature that enables advanced automation workflows: https://adam.holter.com/chatgpts-mentions-feature-powers-advanced-automation-workflows/
What locations would you want to explore first with an AI tour guide? Let me know in the comments.
