Airbnb introduces AI ‘anti-party’ technology
*Ravers not welcome*
2nd June 2024
Airbnb has rolled out ‘anti-party’ technology in a bid to stop users booking Airbnbs for the purpose of throwing disruptive parties.
The platform has brought in machine learning technology across the US for Memorial Day and Fourth of July to ‘promote responsible stays’.
This technology will block certain bookings over these holidays with the aim of reducing the risk of unwelcome parties. Last year, these measures saw over 60,000 would-be guests stopped from booking a home during these peak party weekends.
The smart technology reportedly looks at factors including the type of booking request being made in terms of duration and the distance, i.e. how nearby the guest is to where they are trying to book.
If users are prevented from booking an entire house listing, they can be given the option of booking an individual room instead, where there is less opportunity to cause an issue.
And it’s working. Since introducing these measures, there has been a 50% reduction in ‘party reports’ from aggrieved hosts.
Indeed, whilst having an Airbnb can be a lucrative income for many, with millions of Airbnb listings worldwide, it can quickly become a nightmare if the rental falls into the hands of unscrupulous guests.
Recently, the Daily Mail reported on the thousands of pounds worth of damages done to one Airbnb in the UK, apparently by ‘middle aged ravers’ in a suspected all-night party. Elsewhere, The Mirror reported on an Airbnb being used as a pop-up nightclub, complete with bouncers on the door.
Of course, extreme incidents like this are rare. And they will become even more so with Airbnb’s new technology in full swing to preempt bad behaviour and enhanced management policies to oversee these changes.
It’s a good move for Airbnb, who are undoubtedly the go-to holiday letting resource for vacationers, business travellers and digital nomads around the world.
From launching in 2007, the company has over seven million listings worldwide with the typical US host earning $14K in 2023.
Its recent ‘best ever’ Q1 results revealed that revenue increased 18% to $2.1 billion.
They no doubt want to keep their crown, which necessitates retaining the trust of their host network, as for many, their home is their livelihood.
It’s another interesting use case of AI. We’ll no doubt see businesses get smarter and crucially, better able to protect themselves and their users with clever applications of machine intelligence such as this.
Read more via the Airbnb newsroom
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