Airbnb CEO: Rebuilding as an AI-Native Company
At the Skift Global Forum, Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky said the company chose to rebuild around AI rather than layer it onto the existing business. He called AI an existential risk to Airbnb and also its growth engine, accelerating growth and share gains from OTAs and hotels. Airbnb shipped over 600 features this year, nearly twice last year's pace, and nearly half of customer service tickets are now handled by AI in 50 languages. Chesky also said Airbnb will launch its own agent and will eventually welcome chain hotels including Marriott and Hilton.
Impact and considerations
If Airbnb rebuilds as AI-native and expands hotel supply, it could reshape distribution and competition for OTAs and hotels; corporate travel buyers should watch its agentic booking interface and chain-hotel supply plans.
Key points
- Chesky said Airbnb chose to rebuild around AI rather than layer it onto the existing business.
- He called AI an existential risk to Airbnb while framing it as the growth engine that accelerates growth and share gains from OTAs and hotels.
- Airbnb shipped over 600 features this year, nearly twice last year's pace.
- Nearly half of customer service tickets are now handled by AI in 50 languages.
- Chesky said measuring AI adoption solely by spend or token usage tracks the wrong metric.
- Airbnb will launch its own agent with a richer interface than current text-based tools.
- Chesky said Airbnb will eventually welcome chain hotels including Marriott and Hilton, with personalization letting guests who don't want chains avoid them.
Sources and time
- Primary source
- Skift
- Other sources
- 0
- First source publication
- 25 Sept 2026, 23:21
- Page published
- 25 Sept 2026, 23:26
- Last updated
- 25 Sept 2026, 23:21
- Original links
- Skift Feed：Rebuilding as an AI-Native Company (opens in a new tab)Primary source · en · Published 25 Sept 2026, 23:21