CEO Brian Chesky says Airbnb is going to become an AI-first app with agents that can book trips for you

Brian Chesky, cofounder and CEO of Airbnb, outlined his vision for the travel app's AI-powered future during the company's second-quarter earnings call on August 7, 2025. Airbnb aims to transform from a platform primarily focused on accommodations and experiences into an AI-first application that can actively assist users in planning and booking their travel.

AI-First Transformation

Chesky emphasized that over the next few years, Airbnb will evolve into an AI-first app. Currently, he noted, almost none of the top 50 apps in the App Store are AI-native, with the exception of OpenAI's ChatGPT. However, he predicts that soon all leading apps will be AI-driven, either as startups built around AI or existing apps that successfully integrate generative AI technologies. Unlike some travel companies that use AI mainly for travel inspiration and planning, Airbnb has initially focused on AI-powered customer service. The company has deployed a custom AI agent built on 13 different models, trained on tens of thousands of conversations, which has reduced the need for human intervention by 15% for hosts and guests.

Personalized AI Agents for Booking

Chesky revealed that Airbnb’s AI agent will soon become more personalized and capable of taking direct actions on behalf of users. Instead of just providing information, the AI will be able to:

• Identify which reservation a user wants to cancel and perform the cancellation automatically.
• Search, plan, and book trips proactively for users.
This agentic functionality marks a significant shift towards an AI that acts as a travel assistant, not just a support tool.

Expanding Airbnb’s Services

In addition to AI advancements, Airbnb is expanding its offerings to become an "everything app" for travel. This includes:
• Booking accommodations, experiences, and services all in one place.
• Relaunching its Experiences business.
• Launching Services, allowing users to book on-site professionals such as photographers and massage therapists.
Chesky expressed strong optimism about the growth of Experiences, noting positive feedback from users.

Future Outlook

While Chesky acknowledged in February 2025 that it was still early to fully use AI for trip planning, he remains confident that AI will have a profound impact on the travel industry. He envisions Airbnb becoming the "Amazon of travel," a one-stop shop for all travel and living needs.

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Source: Originally published at Business Insider on Thu, 07 Aug 2025.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Airbnb's AI Strategy

Q: What is Airbnb's main goal with AI integration? A: Airbnb aims to transform into an AI-first application that can actively assist users in planning and booking their travel, moving beyond its current focus on accommodations and experiences. Q: What are "AI agents" in the context of Airbnb? A: These are personalized AI systems that can understand user needs and take direct actions, such as automatically canceling reservations or proactively searching for and booking entire trips for users. Q: How is Airbnb currently using AI? A: Currently, Airbnb is utilizing AI primarily for customer service, having developed a custom AI agent that has reduced the need for human intervention by 15% for hosts and guests. Q: What does Airbnb mean by becoming an "everything app" for travel? A: This refers to expanding its services beyond just accommodations and experiences to include booking various travel-related services and on-site professionals in one integrated platform. Q: When can users expect these advanced AI capabilities from Airbnb? A: Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky indicated that these AI-first transformations and enhanced agentic functionalities will roll out over the next few years.

Crypto Market AI's Take

The shift towards an "AI-first" approach by major platforms like Airbnb signals a broader trend where artificial intelligence is becoming integral to user experience and operational efficiency. At Crypto Market AI, we are at the forefront of this evolution within the financial sector, offering advanced AI crypto trading bots and AI-powered market analysis tools. Our AI agents are designed to provide sophisticated insights and automate trading strategies, mirroring the proactive assistance that Airbnb envisions for travel planning. The integration of AI in everyday applications like travel booking underscores the potential for AI to simplify complex tasks and personalize user journeys, a principle we apply to democratize sophisticated financial strategies for all users.

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• Understanding AI Agents in Finance
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• How AI is Revolutionizing Personal Finance