Airbnb Tests AI Search as Feature Shipping Speeds Up

Airbnb tests AI Search tool inside its app. The company shared this news during its second-quarter earnings call this week. Executives say AI is not just changing what users see, but also how fast Airbnb builds new features. This shift matters because it shows how deeply AI has entered everyday business operations at a major company.

CEO Brian Chesky spoke about this progress on the earnings call. He said AI has cut the time it takes to go from an idea to a finished feature by as much as 60 percent. Airbnb has also shipped nearly 80 percent more features and improvements this year than during the same period last year. This is a large jump, and it shows how much faster the company can now move.

Chesky explained that AI is helping in several parts of the business. This includes search, sign-up, checkout, and payment systems. Hosts are also seeing benefits, such as a quicker and simpler onboarding process. Earlier this year, Airbnb revealed that AI now writes about 60 percent of its code, which has sped up development across teams.

The new AI search feature works differently from Airbnb’s usual search bar. Instead of typing keywords and using filters, users can describe their trip in plain, natural language. The AI tool then shows results in a visual, conversational way. It also personalizes suggestions based on what the user is looking for.

Airbnb is being careful not to force this change on everyone. The company is offering the AI search as an optional toggle. This means users who prefer the traditional search and filter system can keep using it. Chesky has said in the past that a simple chatbot style tool does not work well for travel planning, so Airbnb wants to introduce AI features slowly and thoughtfully.

The company’s AI push goes beyond search. Airbnb’s AI-powered customer support bot now handles a large share of user questions without needing a human agent. This bot launched in North America last year and has since expanded to more than 50 languages. Together, these changes point to a company using AI to improve both behind-the-scenes work and the customer experience.

In short, Airbnb is moving faster because of AI, and it is testing this new search tool as part of that shift. The company is choosing a careful, step-by-step approach rather than a sudden overhaul. If the AI search test goes well, it could become a standard part of the app in the future. For now, users can choose whether or not to try it.