Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky is creating a separate AI lab to develop models that prioritise interactive, design-led interfaces rather than conventional text chatbots.
Fortune reported the effort, citing people familiar with the matter, and said Chesky will remain chief executive of Airbnb, the travel platform, while backing the venture though he is not expected to lead it directly.
Chesky, who studied design before co-founding Airbnb, has repeatedly argued that artificial intelligence for industries such as travel and e-commerce needs richer interfaces than text prompts alone.
The company has steered clear of chatbot-driven features that competitors like Booking Holdings have pursued through partnerships with major AI firms.
The reported lab fits with Airbnb's broader push to expand beyond home rentals into bookings and experiences as Chesky works toward what he has described as a "do-it-all" travel app.
Airbnb reported first-quarter revenue of $2.27 billion, up 6% from a year earlier, and gave a second-quarter revenue forecast between $2.99 billion and $3.05 billion.
