Airbnb says AI is helping it ship features faster as it tests a new search function

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Airbnb says AI is helping it ship features faster as it tests a new search function

Airbnb is leveraging artificial intelligence to accelerate its product development, with CEO Brian Chesky revealing that the company has reduced the time from concept to launch by as much as 60% and increased the number of features shipped by nearly 80% compared to the same period last year.

AI’s role in Airbnb’s faster feature development

During Airbnb’s second-quarter earnings call, Chesky highlighted that AI is now writing 60% of the company’s code, enabling faster iteration across key initiatives. He said, “Today, we’re building, testing, and iterating faster than we could just a year ago. Across some of our key initiatives, we’ve reduced the time from concept to launch by as much as 60%. And compared to the same 6 months last year, we’ve increased the number of features and improvements we shipped this year by nearly 80%.”

This acceleration is evident in areas like search, sign-up, checkout, and payments, where AI-driven improvements are streamlining user experiences. For hosts, Airbnb has introduced features such as quicker onboarding flows, reducing friction for new listings.

Consumer-facing AI: a cautious approach

While Airbnb has been aggressive in adopting AI internally, its consumer-facing AI features have been more measured. The company has rolled out review summaries and listing highlights, but Chesky has previously stated that a simple chatbot interface isn’t suitable for travel use cases. Instead, Airbnb is focusing on AI for search, discovery, and support.

Now, Airbnb is finally testing an AI-powered search function. To respect users’ familiarity with the existing search and filter system, the company is adding a toggle that lets users switch to AI search. This new mode allows natural language queries and returns results in a visual format, with AI-generated titles and highlights that are personalized in real time. Chesky explained, “The titles [in the answer] could actually be AI generated and they can be conversational as if you’re reading a chatbot, but more visual. Then you get to the product description page and the highlights are AI generated in real-time and personalized to you.”

AI in customer support: tangible gains

On the backend, Airbnb has deployed AI extensively in customer support. Its AI-powered bot, launched in North America in 2025, has expanded to more than 50 languages, with plans to support voice calls later this year. The company reports that nearly 45% of customer issues starting with its AI agent are resolved without human intervention, leading to a 16% year-over-year reduction in support cost per booking.

These efficiency gains are reflected in Airbnb’s financial performance: revenue for the quarter ended June rose 17% year-over-year to $3.6 billion, while adjusted EBITDA jumped 21% to $1.3 billion.

Why this matters

Airbnb’s dual approach—using AI to speed up internal development while cautiously introducing consumer-facing features—offers a model for other tech companies. By prioritizing user control (via the toggle) and focusing on practical applications like search and support, Airbnb aims to enhance the travel experience without overwhelming users with abrupt changes.

For travelers, the new AI search could eventually make finding the right listing more intuitive, while hosts benefit from faster onboarding and improved support. The company’s financial results suggest that AI investments are already paying off, and further innovations are likely on the horizon.

Conclusion

Airbnb’s use of AI is transforming both its internal operations and user-facing services. With faster feature development and expanding AI support, the company is positioning itself to remain competitive in the travel industry. As the AI search test rolls out, users can expect more personalized and efficient experiences, while the company continues to leverage AI to drive growth.

FAQs

Q1: How is Airbnb using AI to speed up feature development?
Airbnb uses AI to write a significant portion of its code, reducing time from concept to launch by up to 60% and increasing shipped features by nearly 80% year-over-year.

Q2: What is Airbnb’s new AI search feature?
Airbnb is testing an AI search toggle that allows users to type natural language queries and receive visual results with AI-generated titles and personalized highlights.

Q3: How has AI impacted Airbnb’s customer support?
Airbnb’s AI bot handles nearly 45% of customer issues without human intervention, reducing support costs per booking by 16% year-over-year.

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