Airbnb's "Everything App": Brian Chesky & Jony Ive's Plan to Connect You to Conan (and a Plumber?) - ListenHub

Airbnb's "Everything App": Brian Chesky & Jony Ive's Plan to Connect You to Conan (and a Plumber?)

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May 14

Fromwired

Airbnb's Evolution: CEO Chesky envisions an "everything app" offering diverse services beyond rentals, enhanced by AI, celebrity experiences, and a focus on forging connections.

Airbnb's Reinvention: From Home Rentals to Everything App

CEO Brian Chesky's Vision: Transforming Airbnb into a platform for booking all sorts of services, not just home rentals.
Inspiration: Amazon's evolution from an online bookstore to the "everything store."
The "Everything App" Concept: Airbnb users can find portrait photographers, personal trainers, cooks, and more through the app.
Identity Verification: Strengthening identity verification to make Airbnb a trusted credential, potentially like a government-issued ID.
$200 Million Investment: Launching the first stage of the reinvention with vendors offering services in 260 cities across 30 countries.
Reviving "Experiences": Offering bespoke local activities, a concept previously attempted but now revitalized.
AI Integration: Building a super-concierge powered by AI to handle customer service and eventually plan travel and other aspects of users' lives.
Jony Ive Collaboration: Working with the ex-Apple designer on the app's design, focusing on ideas and problem-solving.
Enhanced Messaging: Creating communities for travelers who share experiences, enabling them to stay in touch and share content.
Services Offered: Augmenting Airbnb stays with services like spa treatments (microdermabrasion), personal training, and potentially plumbing, cleaning, and tutoring in the future.
"Originals" Experiences: Featuring experiences with celebrities and top professionals, like Conan O'Brien.
Chesky's "Founder Mode": Taking a hands-on approach, reviewing details and providing criticism, inspired by Steve Jobs.
The "Magic" of Connections: Focusing on forging connections between people, rather than just technology.
Altman & Ive's Secret Project: Chesky is also involved in a secret project with Sam Altman and Jony Ive to create a device that goes beyond computers.
Competition: Facing competition from various domain leaders, including Yelp, Instacart, and more

Outline

Airbnb's Evolution: CEO Chesky envisions an "everything app" offering diverse services beyond rentals, enhanced by AI, celebrity experiences, and a focus on forging connections.

Airbnb's Reinvention: From Home Rentals to Everything App

CEO Brian Chesky's Vision: Transforming Airbnb into a platform for booking all sorts of services, not just home rentals.
Inspiration: Amazon's evolution from an online bookstore to the "everything store."
The "Everything App" Concept: Airbnb users can find portrait photographers, personal trainers, cooks, and more through the app.
Identity Verification: Strengthening identity verification to make Airbnb a trusted credential, potentially like a government-issued ID.
$200 Million Investment: Launching the first stage of the reinvention with vendors offering services in 260 cities across 30 countries.
Reviving "Experiences": Offering bespoke local activities, a concept previously attempted but now revitalized.
AI Integration: Building a super-concierge powered by AI to handle customer service and eventually plan travel and other aspects of users' lives.
Jony Ive Collaboration: Working with the ex-Apple designer on the app's design, focusing on ideas and problem-solving.
Enhanced Messaging: Creating communities for travelers who share experiences, enabling them to stay in touch and share content.
Services Offered: Augmenting Airbnb stays with services like spa treatments (microdermabrasion), personal training, and potentially plumbing, cleaning, and tutoring in the future.
"Originals" Experiences: Featuring experiences with celebrities and top professionals, like Conan O'Brien.
Chesky's "Founder Mode": Taking a hands-on approach, reviewing details and providing criticism, inspired by Steve Jobs.
The "Magic" of Connections: Focusing on forging connections between people, rather than just technology.
Altman & Ive's Secret Project: Chesky is also involved in a secret project with Sam Altman and Jony Ive to create a device that goes beyond computers.
Competition: Facing competition from various domain leaders, including Yelp, Instacart, and more

Script

Mia: So, I keep hearing whispers about Airbnb, right? It's like, more than just finding a place to crash now. They're aiming to be the Everything App. What's the deal with that? How do you go from booking a treehouse to, like, booking a plumber?

Mars: Totally! Brian Chesky's basically thinking, Why just stop at a weekend getaway? He wants you to grab everything, from a photographer for your vacation pics to a massage, all in one app. It's kind of like Amazon, you know? Remember when they just sold books?

Mia: Right, right, they're Amazon-ing it. But still, when *I* open Airbnb, I'm looking for a cool loft, not a math tutor for my kid. How do they even begin to make that jump?

Mars: Well, they're rolling it out slowly. They dropped, like, two hundred million dollars to get this whole vendor thing going. They're in 260 cities, 30 countries...personal trainers in London, sushi chefs in Tokyo, all that.

Mia: Whoa! And they've got to build trust with these random vendors, right? I'm not just letting anyone into my place.

Mars: Exactly. They've been leveling up their ID verification. Think of your Airbnb profile turning into something like a legit ID. It's not Fort Knox, but it's way better than just a selfie.

Mia: That makes sense. And I heard they're bringing back Experiences? I thought that kind of fizzled out before.

Mars: Yeah, the first Experiences felt like a side project, you know? Like, hiking tours, cooking classes. Now, they're going big. Local adventures, plus Originals with some famous faces. I heard something about Conan O'Brien doing a stand-up gig in your backyard!

Mia: Conan O'Brien in my *backyard*? That's insane!

Mars: I know, right? Connect with Conan, they're calling it. And next month, you could be booking a plumber with a tap of your finger. Total convenience, that's the idea.

Mia: But how do they keep it from turning into a total mess? All those services...the user experience must be a nightmare.

Mars: That's where Jony Ive comes in. Chesky snagged Apple's design guru to keep things slick. They're obsessing over everything, from the font to how you swipe from booking a cabin to a cappuccino.

Mia: I bet that was a fun brainstorming session. I can just imagine Jony Ive saying, Let's round *all* the corners!

Mars: Haha, pretty much! And there's AI too. They want a super-concierge that answers questions, plans your trips, maybe even orders your groceries. Like, Siri on steroids.

Mia: This sounds less like hospitality and more like a mini-Google meets TaskRabbit. Who are they even competing with?

Mars: Oh, it's a crowded field. Yelp for services, Instacart for food, all those local marketplace apps. Airbnb's bet is you already trust us with your home, why not trust us with everything else?

Mia: Fair enough. Speaking of trust, I heard Chesky is in Founder Mode, right? Like, super hands-on, channeling his inner Steve Jobs.

Mars: Totally. He's reviewing every little detail, critiquing icons, even the placement of buttons. It's all about that magic of connection—not just tech, but real human moments.

Mia: So, bottom line: Airbnb's turning into an all-in-one life-service app, fueled by design wizards, AI, and a ton of cash. Any final thoughts?

Mars: It's a huge play. If they pull it off, you might never leave the app. Chefs, plumbers, trainers, you name it. But it's all about the execution. One screw-up with trust or the user experience, and people will bail.

Mia: Got it. Next week, I'm trying to book a plumber and a Pilates class all in the same place. Thanks for the inside scoop!

Mars: You got it! Let me know how that Pilates-plumber combo goes!