In a move to enhance its AI integrations, Airbnb has announced the acquisition of GamePlanner.AI, a specialized AI company led by industry veterans Adam Cheyer and Siamak Hodjat.
This strategic acquisition brings a team of 12 experts known for their prowess in AI, design, and community engagement into Airbnb’s fold.
Airbnb’s decision to acquire GamePlanner.AI reflects its commitment to incorporating advanced AI technology into its services. The move aligns with the company’s innovative approach, seemingly taking inspiration from tech giant Apple in its strategic ventures.
Brian Chesky, Airbnb CEO and Co-Founder said “What makes GamePlanner.AI so special is that they combine expertise in AI, design, and community. AI will rapidly alter our world more than any other technology in our lifetime, but we need to ensure that it augments humanity in a positive way. Airbnb is one of the more humanistic companies in technology, and I believe that, together with Adam and his team, we can develop some of the best interfaces and practical applications for AI.”.
As part of Airbnb’s 2023 Winter Release, Cheyer, Hodjat, and their team will focus on accelerating specific AI projects and integrating their innovative tools into Airbnb’s platform. This integration is expected to significantly enhance the platform’s capabilities and user experience.
Adam Cheyer, co-founder of Siri which was later acquired by Apple, has an impressive track record in the tech industry. Post-acquisition, Cheyer played a pivotal role in Siri’s server-side engineering and AI development, working closely with Steve Jobs.
Adam Cheyer, Co-Founder and CEO of GamePlanner.AI said “A big part of what attracted us to Airbnb was our shared commitment to using AI to enable human connection. Like Brian, I believe that without great design and community-based intelligence, AI can only achieve a fraction of its potential. But with them, the sky’s the limit. The Airbnb team understands this better than anyone.”.
His expertise further extends to his co-founding role at Viv Labs, which was acquired by Samsung and evolved into the voice assistant Bixby. Cheyer’s contribution to Change.org, the world’s largest petition platform, cements his reputation as a pioneer in tech innovation.
Joining Cheyer in this new venture is Siamak Hodjat, who led the natural language processing team for Siri at Apple and helmed the largest engineering team at Viv Labs under Samsung.
The acquisition of GamePlanner.AI by Airbnb is not just an expansion of its team but a strategic investment in AI technology that promises to redefine the platform’s offerings and user experience in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
