Brian Chesky Wants to Airbnb the World—Here’s What That Means for Founders

In a revealing episode of Decoder, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky laid out a vision for Airbnb’s future that’s as ambitious as it is unconventional. Not content with being the go-to platform for vacation rentals, Chesky is now on a mission to make Airbnb an “everything app” — a hub not just for homes, but for experiences, services, and ultimately, a reimagined digital-physical interface.

This isn’t just a product update. It’s a complete philosophical pivot that entrepreneurs would be wise to study.

From Sharing Homes to Sharing Time

Airbnb was born from a simple act of hosting strangers. That human connection—three guests sharing time with Chesky and co-founder Joe Gebbia—sparked the platform's ethos. Now, Chesky believes the real asset isn’t the home—it’s our time.

“I started thinking to myself, I don’t think the biggest asset in people’s lives is their home. It’s their time,” Chesky said.

That shift in perspective has led to “Airbnb Services”—a platform where users can book chefs, photographers, trainers, even hairstylists—anywhere they stay. And the relaunch of Airbnb Experiences, curated by cultural icons like Patrick Mahomes and Megan Thee Stallion, points toward a platform where people are the product, not just the property.

Rethinking the Platform from the Ground Up

To support this expansion, Chesky and his team didn’t tack on new features. They re-engineered Airbnb’s entire tech stack and redesigned the app to handle any type of transaction—not just home rentals.

“We rebuilt the application from the ground up to make it extensible, to be able to offer really anything,” he said.

This is a product lesson for founders: if your current structure can’t scale to your future vision, you have to be willing to tear it down. Chesky went so far as to unify the company under a single roadmap, eliminating traditional divisions and empowering functional leads to drive innovation.

Betting on the Real World in an AI-First Era

While tech is racing to build virtual agents, Chesky’s counterintuitive bet is that the future lies in real-world experiences. He calls it the “gap AI leaves behind”—a space where authentic human connection becomes even more valuable.

“If you're betting on AI digitizing the world, you also want to bet on the gap it leaves. People are going to need things to do. They're going to need ways to make money,” he said.

This is what makes Airbnb’s new direction more than a growth strategy. It’s a cultural commentary and a business hedge. By deepening its roots in the physical world, Airbnb positions itself as a complement to the rise of agentic AI, not a casualty of it.

Design as a Competitive Moat

Chesky, a designer by training, believes in winning through interface. Airbnb’s new app isn’t just functional—it’s visually lush, animated, and 3D. The design borrows from skeuomorphic principles (think: vibrant, real-world textures), signaling a shift away from the flat, minimalist design of the last decade.

“We want the world on the device to be as rich and vibrant and colorful as the real world,” Chesky explained.

His collaboration with design icon Jony Ive reinforces this emphasis. It’s a masterclass in product storytelling through aesthetics—one many startups overlook.

The Takeaway for Entrepreneurs

Brian Chesky is doing what great founders do best: looking at a saturated market and spotting unclaimed territory. He’s building not just a better marketplace, but a digital layer for real-world connection.

If you're a wantrepreneur or early-stage founder, here’s what to steal from Chesky’s playbook:

• Redesign your company around your next ambition, not your last success.
• Build platforms that unlock human potential, not just digital transactions.
• Bet on what AI can’t replace: presence, personality, and real-world magic.

Chesky’s north star? Make Airbnb the ultimate agent—not for digital tasks, but for physical life.

“The real world is magical,” he says. “And I want to help people live in it more fully.”