Airbnb’s Brian Chesky plans to launch a new AI lab

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky plans to launch a dedicated AI lab, signaling a shift from waiting on third-party LLMs to building proprietary models. For 2026, this strategic move underscores how major platforms will internalize AI to control personalization, trust, and costs. It highlights a broader trend: companies prioritizing vertical AI integration over generic partnerships for competitive advantage.