AI will profoundly impact the world, says Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky.

Airbnb (NASDAQ: ABNB) has acquired GamePlanner.AI, a stealth startup, for just under $200 million, marking the home-sharing company’s first acquisition as a public entity. GamePlanner.AI, founded by Adam Cheyer, co-founder of Siri, and Siamak Hodjat, former head of Siri’s natural language processing team at Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), operates in the AI, design, and community space.

According to Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky, the startup brings a unique combination of expertise, stating that AI will profoundly impact the world, and that the collaboration aims to ensure it positively augments humanity. (FAST COMPANY)

The deal is part of the company’s strategy to leverage AI for enhancing customer experiences, as AI could potentially improve the matching of customers with the most favorable rentals.

The 12-person GamePlanner.AI team will join Airbnb, focusing on accelerating specific AI projects and integrating their tools into the platform.

According to Chesky, AI also played a role in the company’s app redesign, with recent introductions like an AI-powered photo tour tool for hosts. This move aligns with broader industry trends, as travel companies like Booking.com (NASDAQ: BKNG) and Expedia (NASDAQ: EXPE) are also exploring AI integration to enhance customer-booking experiences.

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