Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky has decided he no longer wants to simply play the role of a behind-the-scenes power broker in the artificial intelligence world. Instead, he is planning to launch his own AI lab. Although Airbnb has integrated AI coding tools into its operations, Chesky mentioned last year that the company had not yet entered into a large language model (LLM) partnership because existing products were still not mature enough.

Chesky brings significant insight to the table. He first met OpenAI CEO Sam Altman back in 2006 through Y Combinator, the startup accelerator that also helped incubate Airbnb, and the two have remained connected over the years. As OpenAI began to gain momentum, Chesky started meeting regularly with Altman to offer guidance on managing a hypergrowth tech company. At one point, Chesky was reportedly considered as a potential member of OpenAI's board. He played a key role in brokering Altman's return to power after the board of directors fired the CEO, citing a lack of candor. Chesky advised Altman on public relations strategy and helped rally support from prominent figures in Silicon Valley.

Now, however, it appears that Chesky is moving into direct competition with his mentee's company. The specific focus of Chesky's new AI lab remains unclear, though a Bloomberg article suggests it may center on user interaction and design—areas Chesky has emphasized during his tenure at Airbnb. This approach bears some resemblance to what Brett Adcock is doing at Hark, the AI lab he launched late last year to develop a novel user interface for an AI assistant, though Hark is also placing a strong emphasis on hardware products.

Chesky will not be entering "founder mode" at this new venture. According to a person familiar with the situation, he intends to remain as Airbnb's CEO and will not lead the lab directly. Whoever takes on that leadership role will face challenges not only from other AI labs but also from a founding chair—presumably Chesky himself—who is known for his micromanaging tendencies. A representative for Airbnb and Chesky declined to comment on the matter.