Airbnb AI Search Arrives With New Social and Stay Services
Airbnb's fall product update pushes the company in two directions at once. In the physical world, it is adding more services to compete with hotels. In the app, it is using AI and its own user network to help travelers decide where to go and what to do.
The headline feature is AI-powered search for properties. Alongside it come expanded in-stay services and a new set of social tools built around friends' travel history.
AI search, but not a chatbot
Airbnb has been careful with AI. CEO Brian Chesky has deliberately avoided a chatbot-style interface, and he hinted at the new search feature earlier this year. The result is a toggle in the app rather than a conversation window.