After the second quarter profits rhythmAirbnb CEO Brian Chesky shared his thoughts on the company’s AI strategy, warning investors that AI Chatbots cannot yet be regarded as “new Google”. That is, AI Chatbots, and possibly leading new drivers to travel and services, is not completely replaced for the references brought by the dominant search engine.
At least not right now.
“I think we are still feeling the space,” the execucre told investors to call Q2 profits. “The thing I want to warn is that I don’t think AI agents – I don’t think we should think of chatbots like Google – I don’t think we should think of them as” new google “yet.
This, explained by Chesky, is because AI models are not “privately owned”.
“We also have to remember that the model that feeds the chatgpt is not privately owned. It is not exclusive for chatgpt.
Painting a broader image of the AI landscape, Chesky said that in addition to the Chatbots and other AI agents, there will be customized start -up businesses designed for specific applications, as well as other established agencies that have made the shift to AI.
“One of the things we have noticed is that it is not enough to have only … the best model, you must be able to tune the model and build a customized interface for the right application and I think this is the key,” he said.
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The company told investors that it would look to benefit from AI in various ways.
Airbnb shared during the call that AI customer service agent has reduced the percentage of visitors who come into contact with a human agent by 15%, for example. This was really more difficult than tackling the lower fruits of the planning and inspiration of the journey, Chesky said because AI agents who have customer service cannot deform. They must be accurate and useful at any time.
Airbnb’s customer service agent was built using 13 different models and trained in tens of thousands of talks and is currently available in English in the US this year, Airbnb will transfer it to more languages and will become more personalized and agency next year. This means that he could understand if one arrives to cancel a reservation. Not only could he tell them how to do it, but he could also do it for them. The agent could also help design and booking trips.
In addition, AI will come in search of Airbnb next year, the CEO said.
However, the company has not fully completed its plans to work with AI agents, although it is considering it. Users still need Airbnb account to book.
Because of this, Chesky does not believe that Agentic AI will turn his business into a commodity, how booking flights have been made. Instead, it considers AI as a “potentially interesting generation of lead” for the company.
“I think the main thing will be for us to drive and become the first place for people to make a trip to Airbnb. As to whether or not we incorporate or not with the AI agents, I think this is something we are definitely open,” he said.
Airbnb analysts’ expectations in the quarter with revenue of $ 3.1 billion and $ 1.03 per share profits, but stock downhill on the prediction of slower development in the second half of the year.
