Airbnb acquires AI startup for $200 million

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Vacation rental company Airbnb (NASDAQ: ABNB) announced that it would be making its first acquisition since going public in an artificial intelligence company, Gameplanner.AI.

Not much is known about the acquisition target. The 12-person startup has been operating in “stealth mode” since it was established in 2020, and it was founded by Adam Cheyer, co-founder of Siri, which was acquired by Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Viv Labs, acquired by Samsung (NASDAQ: SSNLF).

Airbnb’s Strategic Leap

The $200 million acquisition of Gameplanner.AI was a strategic move by Airbnb to propel the company’s artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives forward.

“What makes GamePlanner.AI so special is that they combine expertise in AI, design, and community,” said Brian Chesky, Airbnb CEO and co-founder, in a statement. “AI will rapidly alter our world more than any other technology in our lifetime, but we need to ensure that it augments humanity in a positive way. Airbnb is one of the more humanistic companies in technology, and I believe that, together with Adam and his team, we can develop some of the best interfaces and practical applications for AI.”

Chesky has previously emphasized the transformative potential of AI on the platform. He envisions AI as a “travel concierge” that evolves with users over time, learning their travel habits to enhance their experiences; for example, using AI to match users with the perfect accommodations based on their previous travel preferences.

Chesky also envisions AI tools for hosts being added to the platform. On November 8, Airbnb announced several new features being added to its platform. Among those features was an AI tool allowing hosts to show potential guests an AI-powered photo tour.

“Hosts can instantly create a photo tour, which organizes photos by rooms to help guests understand the layout of their home. The photo tour is powered by an Airbnb AI engine that recognizes photos and assigns them to 19 rooms. Hosts can edit their photo tour at any time and add amenities to each room.,” according to the official announcement.

Airbnb’s next chapter

Admittedly, not much is known about Gameplanner.AI and the products and services it offers, but Airbnb’s move to acquire Gameplanner.AI highlights its commitment to staying at the forefront of technological innovation. The infusion of AI into the platform aligns with industry trends and highlights Airbnb’s efforts to provide users with tools and features that enhance travel thanks to the personalization and increases in accuracy, efficiency, and overall user experience that many AI apps and services can provide.

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