Airbnb CEO Chesky says ChatGPT isn't 'quite robust enough' to integrate into travel app

Brian Chesky, the CEO of Airbnb, recently expressed his interest in incorporating ChatGPT's AI capabilities into the travel platform. However, he noted that the current technology is not sufficiently advanced for their intended applications. In an appearance on CNBC's "Squawk Box," he stated, "The [software development kit] wasn't quite robust enough for the things we want to do." Despite this setback, Chesky anticipates that Airbnb will eventually integrate ChatGPT. In conjunction with the announcement, Airbnb unveiled new social features, including direct messaging, alongside an updated version of their chatbot, which now allows users in North America to cancel and modify reservations. During an interview with Bloomberg, Chesky reiterated that the OpenAI chatbot is not ready for integration into Airbnb's platform. He explained that the model involves 13 different chatbots, and the company is currently relying significantly on Alibaba's Qwen model for its AI needs. As a close associate of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Chesky believes this is just the beginning of the AI revolution, predicting a surge in consumer applications driven by this technology in the coming years. "We're all going to have to work together," he emphasized, pointing out the collaborative nature of advancing AI. He also warned that while AI has the potential to elevate numerous companies, attempting to integrate every aspect vertically could prove to be a complex challenge. OpenAI has yet to respond to inquiries regarding these developments.