Airbnb is adding hotel-style services, AI-powered property search and new social discovery tools in its fall product update.
The new services added to Airbnb’s app include meal delivery, laundry, baby gear rental, ski and boat rental in limited locations, and expanded grocery delivery.
Airbnb also rolled out an AI search feature for property discovery after taking what it described as a cautious approach to artificial intelligence. Users can turn on a toggle to search for properties with text or voice prompts.
After a user starts an AI search, the interface shows dynamic filters based on stated preferences. If a user types “baby,” for example, Airbnb can surface filters such as cribs, playgrounds, and children’s books and toys.
The company is also using AI to identify relevant features of a property. It will also let users compare properties in their wish lists through AI-generated summaries and reviews.
“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 building AI search was not the difficult part. “It’s hard to create AI search in e-commerce when you have $100 billion going through your platform,” he said.
He added: “Anyone can vibe-code a search function, but to do something that doesn’t kill conversion rate, that’s the hard part.”
Airbnb is also expanding social features aimed at encouraging users to take more trips and book more experiences, including food tastings and craft workshops.
The app began allowing users to connect with friends and fellow travelers last year. Travelers can now view a map based on their connections’ past or upcoming trips.
Users who tap on a trip can see where a connection stayed and which experiences they booked. Users can also choose not to share their trips with others.
Airbnb is also building neighborhood pages based on guest reviews and other sources to help travelers find places to eat and things to do.
Tags: Airbnb
