Airbnb acquires AI startup launched by Siri co-founder

Airbnb has made its first acquisition as a public company to accelerate some of it’s AI projects

The startup is called Gameplanner.AI, which has been in “stealth mode” since its founding in 2020, and combines design, AI and community expertise - which Airbnb appeared to see as beneficial to incorporate in its platform.

Key takeaways

• Gameplanner.AI was cofounded by Adam Cheyer, one of the founders of Siri. When Siri was acquired by Apple, he worked alongside Steve Jobs. Cheyer later co-founded Viv Labs, which would become the foundation for Samsung’s voice assistant;
• Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky has said that generative AI will radically change the platform and that he wants to use it as a “travel concierge” that learns about users over time and enhances their travel experiences - for example, matching users with the right rooms or homes;
• This deal is Airbnb’s first acquisition since 2019 and could pique some interest on Wall Street as to whether Chesky’s M&A strategy is shifting.

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