Airbnb to launch AI travel agent in first half of 2027
Short-term rental platform Airbnb said it will release its own AI travel agent to users in the first half of 2027. The announcement came with strong third-quarter results, in which revenue rose 19%.
Airbnb, the US short-term rental and travel platform, announced in its third-quarter shareholder letter on Thursday that it will launch its own artificial intelligence (AI) travel agent for consumers in the first half of 2027. The company had already said it was building such a tool, but had previously promised it only within the next year. The timeline is now more specific.
What the agent will be
On the earnings call with analysts, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky said general-purpose AI agents such as Muse and Instinct handle simple routine tasks well, but trip planning is different. He said 80% of travelers enjoy researching trips, looking at photos, comparing homes and making decisions together with the people they travel with.
For that reason the company is building its own product rather than a conventional chatbot. The agent will draw on a library of hundreds of travel-specific interface components, including maps, photos, comparisons, calendars and itineraries, and assemble them in real time to fit a user's request. Chesky described the experience as feeling "a little bit like generative UI".
Help beyond booking
The shareholder letter says the agent will assist guests throughout a trip: changing a reservation, resolving payment issues, handling refunds and rebooking, and providing 24-hour safety support. Over time, Airbnb expects it to help with more than homes and hotels, extending to services and experiences.
Financial results
The announcement came alongside third-quarter results: revenue grew 19% to $4.87 billion, above Wall Street estimates. The company also raised its 2026 revenue growth forecast to the high teens, from the mid-teens. Chesky said it was Airbnb's fastest revenue growth in more than three years.
