Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky Declares AI Chatbots Surpass Google Search in Revenue Performance
In a significant revelation during Airbnb's latest earnings call, CEO Brian Chesky stated that the company is generating more revenue from AI chatbots than from traditional search engines like Google. As reported by Fortune, Chesky explained that traffic originating from platforms such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Kiwi converts at a substantially higher rate compared to Google Search traffic.
"From a business standpoint, I think AI is the best thing that ever happened to Airbnb," Chesky emphasized. "Traffic that comes from chatbots converts at a higher rate than traffic that comes from Google." This statement underscores a pivotal shift in how digital platforms are leveraging artificial intelligence to drive commercial success.
AI at the Core of Airbnb's Operational Transformation
Chesky further elaborated that Airbnb has quietly evolved into an AI-native company, integrating artificial intelligence deeply into its core operations. The platform now processes over $100 billion in annual payments, manages 200 million verified user IDs, and utilizes AI to handle approximately one-third of its customer service tickets in North America. He stressed that AI is not merely an add-on feature but a fundamental component of Airbnb's infrastructure, playing critical roles in fraud prevention and customer support.
To bolster this strategic shift, Airbnb has appointed Ahmad Al-Dhale, an AI expert who contributed to building Meta's Llama model, to lead the company's AI strategy. Chesky believes this expertise will enable Airbnb to fine-tune general AI models with its proprietary data, providing a competitive advantage in the travel and hospitality industry.
Strong Financial Results Highlight AI's Impact
Airbnb's fourth-quarter 2025 results vividly illustrate the impact of this AI-driven transformation. The company reported revenue of $2.78 billion and a gross booking value of $20.4 billion, marking a 16% year-over-year increase. Chesky attributed much of this robust performance to AI innovations, which he said are enhancing search functionalities, improving customer support, and streamlining booking processes.
Chesky's philosophy is clear: companies must proactively disrupt themselves before competitors do. "If you don't disrupt yourself, someone else will. And we're not going to allow people to disrupt ourselves. We're going to disrupt ourselves first," he asserted. This proactive approach is central to Airbnb's strategy in an increasingly AI-centric market.
AI as a Non-Zero-Sum Game in Business Strategy
He also highlighted that AI is not a zero-sum game; since models like Gemini and Claude are accessible to all companies, success will hinge on specialization and industry-specific expertise. For Airbnb, this means customizing AI to address the unique demands of travel and hospitality, thereby creating tailored solutions that enhance user experience and operational efficiency.
This comprehensive integration of AI positions Airbnb at the forefront of technological adoption in the sharing economy, setting a benchmark for how companies can leverage artificial intelligence to drive growth and innovation.
