Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky Argues AI Agents Require a New Operating System
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky discusses why chatbots fail at e-commerce, the need for multiplayer AI, and why current AI agents lack a true operating system.
Airbnb recently integrated new AI-driven search functionality as part of its fall update, marking a measured and deliberate move into artificial intelligence. Co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky remains skeptical of standard chatbot interfaces for travel discovery, noting that text-based chat windows are ill-suited for browsing and shopping because they limit options and require too many turns to reach a result. According to travel studies, users derive substantial pleasure from the planning and anticipation stages of travel, meaning that a pure chatbot experience strips away the inspiration and library-like discovery of dreaming about a trip.
Furthermore, Chesky points out that current chatbots are designed for single users rather than collaborative planning, which is essential for products like travel that groups use together. Over the next three to six months, Airbnb plans to research "multiplayer" AI interfaces that allow multiple people, such as families or groups of friends, to plan trips collectively. While startups like Monogram and Wabi experiment with generative interfaces built on the fly by AI, Chesky believes the future will involve a combination of pre-designed, predictable elements and generative screens, emphasizing that human designers often prompt better software layouts than consumers can.
The Evolution of AI Agents and Interoperability
Looking ahead to consumer AI agents designed to execute tasks on behalf of users—such as Instinct and Muse—Chesky notes that Airbnb wants to adapt its platform to be more agent-friendly. He argues that apps will not simply disappear into a universal simple UI because different services require distinct interface layouts, such as maps, identity verification, and host messaging. If an external agent interacts with Airbnb, it either needs a robust software development kit to bring the app's functionality forward or a proper handoff mechanism. Chesky also envisions agent-to-agent interactions where different applications become interoperable without requiring bespoke business deals, potentially leveraging standards like MCP to connect software.
Why Developers Need a Dedicated AI Operating System
Chesky contends that the broader tech industry is missing a foundational operating system built specifically for AI. Current AI applications run on top of legacy operating systems like iOS, macOS, and Windows rather than functioning as an AI operating system at the kernel level. Without a robust SDK and operating platform akin to the iPhone App Store, attempts by tools like ChatGPT to build app ecosystems face severe limitations. Chesky noted that testing Airbnb on systems like Muse and Instinct reveals that consumer AI has not yet been fully cracked, and true progress requires lower-level substrate changes where all applications become interoperable agents with rich user interfaces.
What it means for developers
Developers building next-generation applications must look beyond simple chatbot wrappers and single-user interactions. As platforms move toward agentic workflows and multi-agent systems, software needs to support rich interfaces, handoff protocols, and interoperability standards like MCP. For those experimenting with multiple foundational models, developers can try top AI models cheaply through one API at https://apixoai.online. Building for the future means preparing applications to act as agents that can converse with other software agents while retaining specialized user interfaces for tasks like mapping, verification, and browsing.
Beyond interface design, Chesky notes that voice technology will gain prominence over typing. Airbnb plans to launch voice agents this fall to assist with search and customer service. On an internal level, Chesky shared that AI has helped him streamline communication and reduce meetings by quickly retrieving information on demand.
Source: Brian Chesky interview: AI agents need their own operating system — TechCrunch AI. Written by the Apixo team from that report.
One key for Claude, GPT, GLM, DeepSeek and more. Pay per token with crypto.
Get your API key
