- Airbnb has finalized its inaugural acquisition as a public entity, with a value just shy of $200 million, as per informed sources.
- The acquired company, Gameplanner, was established in 2020 by Adam Cheyer, a former member of the Siri team at Apple. Gameplanner has been employing AI in a discreet manner, operating under the radar for reasons such as safeguarding intellectual property and avoiding distractions. Airbnb intends for AI to expedite certain tasks within the company.
- Adam Cheyer, a co-founder of Siri and Gameplanner, previously collaborated with Steve Jobs after Apple acquired Siri. Cheyer later co-founded Viv Labs, a venture that laid the foundation for Samsung’s virtual assistant.
- Brian Chesky, the CEO of Airbnb, envisions that advanced AI will revolutionize the platform, positioning it as a “travel concierge” to enhance user experiences by personalizing travel recommendations and accommodations.
- This recent acquisition marks Airbnb’s first major consolidation since 2019, potentially signaling a shift in their M&A strategy under Chesky’s leadership. With profitability on a GAAP basis and substantial liquid assets of $11 billion as of September, Airbnb appears financially robust.
- Reports suggest that Google is contemplating a significant investment in Character, an AI startup backed by Andreessen Horowitz. Character, valued at \(1 billion after raising \)150 million in a recent funding round, offers users the opportunity to interact with virtual representations of notable figures like Elon Musk and Albert Einstein or craft unique online personas.
Visited 1 times, 1 visit(s) today
Last modified: February 26, 2024
