Airbnb poaches former Meta GenAI leader to be new technology chief

Airbnb has appointed Ahmad Al-Dahle, the former leader of generative artificial intelligence at Meta Platforms, as its new Chief Technology Officer, according to an announcement from CEO Brian Chesky on Wednesday. In a blog post, Chesky highlighted Al-Dahle's ability to merge innovative concepts with technical expertise, emphasizing his strong appreciation for design and the importance of engineering as a strategic partner within the company. Al-Dahle previously managed Meta's generative AI division and later became co-head of AI products after the company faced challenges with its Llama 4 model. This restructuring followed a lukewarm reception from developers. Meta's efforts to enhance its AI capabilities included hiring Alexandr Wang, CEO of Scale AI, as part of a substantial $14.3 billion investment in its AI strategy. The move to bring Al-Dahle on board comes after former tech chief Ari Balogh resigned in December, ending a tenure that began in 2018 after his transition from Google. As Airbnb seeks to redefine its brand beyond being merely a short-term rental service, the company has made significant changes, including a comprehensive update of its app that introduced new services such as catering and personal training. Additionally, Airbnb has upgraded its communication features, including direct messaging and enhancements to its AI chatbot. While Chesky, a close acquaintance of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, has expressed a desire to integrate ChatGPT into Airbnb’s offerings, he noted in October that the technology still needs improvement. Chesky praised Al-Dahle for aligning with the company's vision of leveraging technology and AI to enhance human connections, stating that both share the belief that technology should prioritize serving people rather than the other way around. Al-Dahle's impressive background includes 16 years at Apple, where he contributed to various projects in imaging and sensing technology. He holds a degree from the University of Waterloo in Canada.