Airbnb CEO: AI agents need their own operating system

Brian Chesky, the founder and CEO of Airbnb, thinks artificial intelligence is about to change everything—but it needs the right foundation to work.

Right now, AI systems are mostly tools that answer questions or write text. But Chesky is talking about something different: AI agents. These are programs that can think through problems and take actions on their own—like booking a hotel, checking your calendar, or ordering groceries without you doing every step yourself. The difference is important: instead of you telling an AI what to do at every moment, an agent decides what needs to happen next.

Here's the catch: Chesky argues that today's computers aren't really set up for this. Your phone has iOS or Android—an operating system that manages everything and lets apps work together smoothly. Chesky thinks AI agents will need something similar: their own operating system built from the ground up, designed to let AI do what it does best. At Airbnb, his company is already rethinking how its software works to be "agent-friendly"—meaning it's easier for AI to understand and use without humans stepping in constantly. He believes this is just the beginning, and that whoever builds this AI operating system will shape the future of how we all use technology.