Airbnb to launch AI travel agent in first half of 2027

Details of the feature were disclosed in Airbnb’s third-quarter shareholder letter on Thursday, which outlined how the agent will differ from a standard AI chatbot. The company said the agent will assist across the travel journey, from initial planning and option comparison to booking management and in-stay help.

CEO Brian Chesky has argued that travel requires a richer interface than a conventional chatbot. On the earnings call, he said people are unlikely to rely on a single AI agent for everything, adding that travel is aspirational and that discovering where to go and where to stay is part of the experience.

Chesky pointed to existing agents such as Muse and Instinct as capable of routine tasks like making a restaurant reservation or scheduling an appointment, but said trip planning is different. He cited that 80% of travelers say they enjoy spending time researching trips, and noted that people want to look at photos and compare homes.

Airbnb had previously signaled plans to build its own AI travel agent. The company now says the feature will arrive in the first half of 2027, with the Q3 letter providing more detail on its functions and design.