Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky said artificial intelligence is helping the company develop and launch new features faster, as it expands its use of AI beyond customer support to software engineering.
Chesky said AI has significantly accelerated product development, allowing engineering teams to build, test and refine new features more quickly. The company is already using AI to generate about 60% of its code, a sharp increase that has shortened development cycles and improved productivity.
The company is now testing a new AI-powered search experience that moves beyond traditional filters. Instead of requiring users to browse listings using location, price and amenities, the new feature aims to help travellers discover accommodation based on broader travel preferences and intent.
Chesky said Airbnb is taking a cautious approach to rolling out consumer-facing AI features, preferring to refine them before making them widely available. While many technology companies have rushed to introduce AI products, Airbnb has focused first on using the technology internally to improve efficiency and accelerate innovation.
The strategy is already delivering financial benefits. Airbnb reported second-quarter revenue of $3.61 billion, up 17% from a year earlier, while raising its full-year revenue growth forecast to the mid-teens. The stronger outlook reflected resilient travel demand as well as operational improvements driven in part by AI.
Beyond software development, Airbnb has expanded AI across several parts of its platform. The technology powers customer support, generates review summaries, recommends listings and helps hosts optimise property descriptions and pricing. The company said AI is also reducing customer service costs by resolving more enquiries without human intervention.
The new search function represents Airbnb’s latest effort to redefine how travellers discover accommodation. Rather than relying solely on keywords and filters, the company wants search to become more conversational and personalised, allowing users to describe the type of trip they want instead of specifying exact search criteria.
Airbnb’s broader AI push comes as technology companies increasingly use artificial intelligence to improve internal operations rather than simply launching consumer chatbots. By integrating AI into software development, customer support and product design, the company is seeking to speed up innovation while lowering operating costs.
The approach reflects a growing shift across the technology industry, where AI is evolving from a standalone product into a core business tool. For Airbnb, the technology is becoming central to both how its platform is built and how travellers interact with it, positioning the company to respond more quickly to changing customer needs while maintaining its competitive edge.
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Emmanuel Abara Benson is a business journalist and editor covering artificial intelligence, global markets, and emerging technology.
He has previously worked with Business Insider Africa and Nairametrics, reporting on finance, startups, and innovation.
His work focuses on AI, digital economy, and global tech trends.
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