Airbnb has made a substantial move in the realm of artificial intelligence, announcing its acquisition of GamePlanner.AI, a startup consisting of 12 talented individuals. Although the financial details of the acquisition remain undisclosed, this step underscores Airbnb’s commitment to harnessing the potential of AI in its services.
The brains behind GamePlanner.AI include Adam Cheyer, notable for his involvement in co-founding Apple’s pioneering voice assistant, Siri. This acquisition will serve as a valuable addition to Airbnb’s existing suite of AI technologies, comprising expansive language models, computer vision systems, and machine learning algorithms.
Brian Chesky, CEO of Airbnb, expressed the transformative power of AI in a statement, stating, “AI will rapidly alter our world more than any other technology in our lifetime.”
While Airbnb has chosen to remain tight-lipped about the specific terms of the acquisition, CNBC, relying on sources familiar with the matter, reported an estimated value close to $200 million for the deal.
This move aligns with a broader trend in the travel industry, where major players such as Booking.com and Expedia are also investing in AI integration. The goal is to enhance customer experiences by optimizing booking processes and curating personalized itineraries and recommendations.
As AI continues to reshape industries across the board, Airbnb’s strategic acquisition positions the company at the forefront of technological innovation, aiming to revolutionize the way customers interact with their platform and the services they provide.
