Airbnb has announced that it will launch its own artificial‑intelligence travel agent in the first half of 2027. The company disclosed the timeline and a brief description of the agent’s functionality in its third‑quarter shareholder letter. According to the letter, the AI agent will provide a personalized interface built around the traveler’s questions. It will combine maps, photos, comparisons and real‑time itineraries, and will offer assistance throughout the trip. The agent will also handle booking changes, payment issues, refunds, re‑reservations and 24‑hour safety support—services that a simple external chatbot would not be able to provide. CEO Brian Chesky told analysts that people will not rely on a single AI agent for all tasks. “General agents like Muse and Instinct are good for routine tasks such as restaurant reservations or scheduling meetings, but travel planning is aspirational,” Chesky said. He added that 80 % of travelers enjoy researching trips, viewing photos and comparing homes, which is why Airbnb is building its own agent rather than using a generic text chatbot. The agent will use a library of hundreds of travel‑specific interface components—maps, photos, comparisons, calendars and itineraries—to generate a tailored experience in real time. Chesky described the interface as “almost like a generative interface: the right interface at the right time.” The announcement came alongside the company’s third‑quarter earnings, in which Airbnb reported a 19 % increase in revenue to $4.87 billion, exceeding Wall Street expectations. The company also raised its revenue forecast for 2026 to higher‑end decade levels and said the quarter marked the fastest revenue growth in more than three years, noting that “Airbnb is back in growth mode.” The travel agent is expected to expand beyond booking support, eventually covering a broader range of services and experiences as the company leverages its 20 years of experience connecting hosts and guests.