What if Airbnb Builds the Killer AI Travel Search App?
Photo Credit: Search filters Airbnb unveiled for its 2024 Winter Release. The company is preparing to use AI to rebuild its internal search engine Airbnb
Skift Take
Airbnb is hiring an engineer for an AI-powered natural language search product. If the tech delivers, it could create new creative pressure in shaping how people choose where to go and stay.
Airbnb is preparing to rebuild its internal search engine with generative AI at the core. In a recent job posting for a search infrastructure engineer, the company outlined plans for a “next generation search platform” designed to support “generative AI (large language model) use cases.”
Candidates with expertise in search and recommendation systems are encouraged to apply, and experience with GenAI or LLMs is listed as a preferred qualification.
Search is one of the most critical components of Airbnb’s business. It determines how guests discover homes and experiences, and how hosts reach customers. And while Airbnb has not made any public announcements about an AI-native search product, the technical scope and job description point to ambitions beyond incremental improvements.
The listing suggests Airbnb is looking to reconstruct its core search product to accommodate AI. The new platform is described as one that will “powe
