Chesky also shared his optimism about the future of humanity and technology. He recalled how a friend had initially doubted the concept of Airbnb, believing that strangers would never trust each other. However, with over 2 billion people having used Airbnb, Chesky firmly believes in the inherent goodness of people. He expressed hope that the internet, originally intended to bring people together, can help foster physical connections and understanding among individuals.
Key takeaways:
- Airbnb's CEO Brian Chesky hinted at major changes for the company in 2025, aiming to reinvent its Experiences section and hoping it will be seen as one of the biggest reinventions of a company in recent memory.
- Chesky believes that physical experiences and communities still hold more value than digital ones, even in the age of AI, and he sees AI as a tool that will eventually change the physical world significantly.
- Chesky's leadership style has evolved since the pandemic, with him becoming more involved in the day-to-day details of his staff's work, monitoring between 75 and 80 projects at a time, and making himself accessible to all levels of staff.
- Despite the challenges faced by Airbnb and the world at large, Chesky remains optimistic about the future, believing in the fundamental goodness of people and the potential of technology to bring people together in the physical world.