Airbnb has expanded its use of OpenAI's most advanced AI models, including the newly launched GPT-6 Astra. The company announced the deal on September 23, 2026.
The agreement gives Airbnb broader access to OpenAI's APIs and to Amazon Bedrock. The goal is to speed up engineering and product development across the company.
What the Deal Covers
The partnership builds on tools Airbnb already uses. These include OpenAI's Codex and earlier models such as GPT-5.6 Terra and Luna.
According to Airbnb CTO Ahmad Al-Dahle, these models have helped development teams ship 80% more product features than the year before.
Al-Dahle said GPT-6 Astra has been strong at finding complex software bugs. It has also helped shape system designs and speed up planning work.
He gave one example. Drafting strategic documents now takes three to four rounds with Astra, compared to more than 20 with older models.
OpenAI Chief Revenue Officer Dali Rajic praised Airbnb's approach. "Airbnb's use of GPT-6 Astra exemplifies how these models can transform engineering workflows and enhance guest and host experiences," he said.
AI Across the Airbnb Platform
The deal is part of a wider effort by Airbnb to add AI to its service. The company shared details during its second quarter 2026 earnings report.
Airbnb said its Summer Release added AI tools across the user journey. These range from trip planning to customer support.
AI features now resolve more than 40% of guest issues without human help. That is up from about one-third in late 2025.
Airbnb is also using OpenAI models beyond engineering. The company applies them to fraud detection, search, and messages between guests and hosts.
The models are also being used to improve the quality of listings and reviews. Millions of guests and hosts use Airbnb every day.
The move marks a change in tone from Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky. He had earlier voiced doubts about large language models.
Chesky had said earlier versions were not ready for wide use. The new agreement expands Airbnb's use of OpenAI's latest models across the company.
The September 23 announcement is the latest step in that effort. Airbnb's engineering teams now have wider access to GPT-6 Astra for building and testing new features.
