Airbnb plans to bake in AI features for search, discovery and support

Core Insights - Airbnb is planning to integrate AI features powered by large language models to enhance user experience in searching for listings, trip planning, and property management for hosts [1][2] - The company aims to create an AI-native experience that personalizes interactions and improves operational efficiency [2] AI Features and Development - Airbnb is currently testing a new feature that allows users to search and inquire about properties using natural language queries [2] - The existing AI-powered customer service bot handles one-third of customer issues without human intervention, with plans to expand its capabilities to voice support and multiple languages [7][8] - The company is experimenting with making AI search more conversational and is considering the introduction of sponsored listings in the future [3][4] Leadership and Strategy - Airbnb's new CTO, Ahmad Al-Dahle, will leverage AI expertise to utilize identity and review data for enhancing app functionality [6] - The company has set a goal for 100% of its engineers to use AI tools, currently at 80% [8] Financial Performance - Airbnb reported fourth-quarter revenue of $2.78 billion, reflecting a 12% increase year-over-year [9]