Airbnb CEO Says AI Agents Need a New Operating System

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky says consumer AI agents need an operating system and software developer kit that support richer interfaces, according to TechCrunch. He said current agents run as apps on platforms such as iOS, macOS and Windows rather than operating at the core system level.

Chesky said apps should become agents that can communicate with other agents through standards such as MCP. Airbnb plans to add agents across search, customer service and other parts of its app, potentially combining them into a broader Airbnb agent.

The company is also exploring shared AI interfaces that several people can use while planning a trip. Chesky expects interfaces to combine generated elements with designed controls for browsing, maps, comparisons, identity checks and host messaging. Airbnb also plans to introduce voice agents for search and customer service this fall.