Airbnb says it is ready to introduce AI technology – but not as the consumers originally wanted.
Instead of offering tools with which travelers can plan or book their trips with the help of AI agents, Airbnb is planning to initially introduce AI into his customer support system. This update will be started later this summer, the company informed investors during its profit for the fourth quarter of 2024 on Thursday.
Ai explained Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky and can do “an incredible job” for customer service because they can speak every language and understand thousands of documents. At the beginning, the AI will work as a customer service employee, but its functions will be expanded over time.
While companies like OpenaiPresent GoogleAnd other Work Chesky on AI agents – or AI software that a number of tasks can perform – and is of the opinion that the technology is still too early to use Airbnb. However, he believes that AI will eventually have a “profound influence on travel”, even if nothing has changed for the most important travel platforms.
“Here is what I think about AI. I think it’s still very early, ”said Chesky. “It is probably similar to the 90s in the middle of the 90s for the Internet.”
He noted that other companies were working on integrations to plan the trip, but he believes that it is too early for the AI travel planning.
“I don’t think it is quite (a) ready for the main time,” added the CEO.
While AI technology is developing, Airbnb will expand the AIS-sought customer service member to Airbnbs search.
In addition to customer service, the company reported some small productivity gains through the internal use of AI for technical purposes. But here, too, the executive caution pointed out and said: “I don’t think it flows to a fundamental level in productivity.”
In a few years, these profits could achieve a kind of “medium -term” effects, such as Chesky, such as an increase in technology and technical productivity by 30%.
Airbnb did not say whether the use of AI would influence the headquarters, but CFO Ellie Mertz indicated greater efficiency, especially in the area of customer service.
“With regard to ’25 and the prospects there, I would say that there are incremental possibilities in our variable costs,” said Mertz to investors.
Airbnb reported strong income in the fourth quarter, which saw The shares come by 15% After he had hit both income and income. The company achieved sales of 2.48 billion US dollars in the quarter, over the estimates of 2.42 billion US dollars and a profit per share of 73 cents over the expected 58 cents.
