Airbnb is also using AI to change how listings appear in search. Results can now include generated descriptions that highlight relevant features, while a new comparison tool lets users place homes from their wishlists side by side and review AI-generated summaries of their differences.
“We are finally making our first foray into AI search. And what you see is just the very beginning of something. And over the coming months, we’re going to really be iterating this very quickly,” Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky told TechCrunch.
Chesky said the challenge is not simply building an AI search function, but making one that works effectively in a commerce environment. “Anyone can vibe-code a search function, but to do something that doesn’t kill conversion rate, that’s the hard part.”
The new AI trip-planning features are starting in the U.S. Airbnb is also expanding its AI customer support, which is available in more than 50 languages, and plans to add voice support for guests who want help over the phone.
Alongside AI, Airbnb is putting more emphasis on recommendations from people users already know. Travelers can now connect with friends, relatives and previous travel companions on Airbnb. Once connected, they can view one another’s past and upcoming trips through an interactive Travel Map.
Tapping a trip can reveal where a connection stayed, along with experiences or services they booked. Users can also read reviews written by people in their network, save favorites to their own wishlists and send messages within the Airbnb app.
Airbnb says users retain control over what they share. Individual trips can be hidden or removed from a Travel Map, and connections can be blocked.
The company is also adding neighborhood pages that summarize an area using information from guests, hosts and other sources. Those pages can include details about what an area is like, places to eat, activities and transportation, along with experiences offered by local hosts.
Once travelers arrive, Airbnb wants to handle more of the services traditionally associated with a hotel stay.
Meal delivery is being added in select European cities, allowing guests to order food from local restaurants directly to an Airbnb. Grocery delivery, which launched earlier in the U.S., is also expanding into Europe.
In select U.S. cities, Airbnb is partnering with Rinse to offer laundry pickup and delivery. Guests will receive free pickup, delivery and next-day rush service.
Baby equipment rentals are also being added through a partnership with BabyQuip. Starting in November, guests in more than 60 U.S. cities will be able to rent items such as cots, pushchairs, high chairs and toys, with delivery and setup at their Airbnb.
Airbnb is also adding location-specific rental services. Travelers in the French Alps will be able to rent ski and snowboard equipment, while visitors to South Florida can book boat rentals through local partners.
Hosts are getting their own set of new tools.
A multi-listing calendar will let hosts change pricing, availability, cancellation policies and discounts across several properties at once. Airbnb is also introducing interactive 3D floor plans to give prospective guests a clearer view of a property’s layout before booking.
Dynamic pricing will recommend a nightly price range and can automatically adjust rates based on daily supply and demand. Hosts will be able to change the range and make additional pricing adjustments directly from the calendar.
Later this autumn, Airbnb also plans to introduce AI-powered earnings insights. Those summaries will explain host performance, identify factors affecting results and suggest actions that can be taken from within the dashboard.
The fall update expands Airbnb in two directions at once. On the booking side, AI and social recommendations are meant to make it easier to decide where to go and what to book. Once a trip begins, the company is adding more services around the stay itself, from food and laundry to equipment rentals and local activities.
This analysis is based on reporting from TechCrunch & Airbnb.
Images courtesy of Airbnb.
This article was generated with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy and quality.
