Airbnb says artificial intelligence is playing a major role in how the company builds its technology. During its Q1 2026 earnings call, the company revealed that AI tools helped generate around 60% of the new code written by its engineers during the quarter.
CEO Brian Chesky explained that AI has become especially useful for creating tools for Airbnb’s API partners, who use outside software to manage properties and bookings. According to Chesky, tasks that once required large engineering teams can now be completed much faster with AI-assisted systems supervised by human developers.
The company is also increasing its use of AI in customer support. Airbnb said its AI chatbot can now resolve about 40% of customer issues without needing a human support agent, improving from roughly 33% earlier this year.
Airbnb has additionally been experimenting with AI-powered search features, though Chesky admitted the travel industry still has not fully figured out how to use AI effectively for booking experiences. He pointed to current chatbot limitations, including too much text, weak comparison tools, and difficulties handling group travel planning.
Despite those challenges, Airbnb posted strong financial results. The company reported a 3.9% increase in net income to $160 million, while revenue rose 18% to $2.7 billion compared to the same period last year.
Airbnb also saw growth in bookings, with nights booked increasing 9% to 156.2 million. Its new “Reserve now, pay later” option accounted for nearly 20% of total booking value during the quarter.
