LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 17: Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky speaks onstage throughout “Introducing Journeys” Reveal at Airbnb Open LA on November 17, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Picture by Mike Windle/Getty Photos for Airbnb)
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Airbnb has made its first acquisition as a public firm, in a deal valued at just below $200 million, sources acquainted with the deal informed CNBC.
The startup is named Gameplanner.AI, which has been in “stealth mode” since its founding in 2020. Startups in stealth mode function out of the general public eye for numerous causes, similar to to guard mental property or keep away from distractions. Gameplanner.AI will speed up a few of Airbnb’s AI initiatives, in line with Airbnb.
Gameplanner.AI was cofounded by Adam Cheyer, one of many founders of Siri. When Siri was acquired by Apple, he labored alongside Steve Jobs. Cheyer later co-founded Viv Labs, which might grow to be the muse for Samsung’s voice assistant.
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky has mentioned that generative AI will seriously change the platform and that he desires to make use of it as a “journey concierge” that learns about customers over time and enhances their journey experiences — for instance, matching customers with the correct rooms or houses.
This deal is Airbnb’s first acquisition since 2019 and will pique some curiosity on Wall Road as as to whether Chesky’s M&A method is shifting, probably making Airbnb a extra engaging acquisition. The corporate is worthwhile on a GAAP foundation and held $11 billion in money and liquid belongings as of the tip of September.
Airbnb’s information follows stories that Google is in talks to take a position tons of of thousands and thousands into one other AI startup, Character.AI, which in March raised a $150 million at a $1 billion valuation in a funding spherical led by Andreessen Horowitz. The startup lets individuals create digital characters or chat with AI variations of celebrities like Elon Musk or Albert Einstein.
