Airbnb has appointed Ahmad Al-Dahle, formerly head of generative AI at Meta, as its new chief technology officer, underscoring how artificial intelligence is becoming core to the future of travel platforms. The move follows the departure of longtime CTO Ari Balogh and reflects Airbnb’s ambition to embed AI more deeply across its product ecosystem.
Al-Dahle brings extensive experience from Meta’s generative AI teams and a 16-year tenure at Apple, where he worked on advanced imaging and special projects. At Airbnb, his mandate extends beyond infrastructure to reshaping how travelers discover, plan, and experience trips.
The company has already begun expanding beyond accommodation into services such as catering, personal training, and enhanced messaging, supported by an upgraded AI chatbot. Looking ahead, Airbnb is positioning AI as a travel companion – powering smarter search, personalized recommendations, and concierge-style assistance before and during trips.
For the broader travel industry, the appointment highlights a clear trend: AI is moving from backend optimization to the traveler-facing experience, reshaping how people interact with destinations, hosts, and travel services worldwide.
