SAN DIEGO — Looking to book a home on Airbnb for the New Year's weekend?
Beware. The platform is now using artificial intelligence to crack down on potential guests who break the rules and throw a party, disrupting local neighborhoods.
In 2022, Airbnb blocked more than 63,000 people in the United States during New Year's Eve from booking a home on its site, as part of a general crackdown on potential guests who were suspected of renting that place for a large party.
That number could possibly increase this year, with Airbnb now turning to artificial intelligence.
"It's probably going to make a lot of people upset," said Mission Beach resident Justin Marks, "mostly young people that want to throw parties."
Airbnb said its aim in using AI is to reduce the risk of unauthorized and raucous parties that could disrupt neighborhoods on New Year's.
It's a high-tech strategy that is raising many questions.
"What algorithm, what AI, what parameters are they using?," asked San Diegan Jordan Germinaro.
In a statement, Airbnb said that their proprietary AI technology looks at "hundreds of signals" that could indicate a guest who is trying to book a certain home is at higher risk for throwing a party.
'Hundreds of signals'
Those signals include:
- The duration of the trip a guest is trying to book
- How far the listing is from their location; the type of listing they're booking
- Whether the reservation is being made at the last minute
"I am kind of split on this issue," said Rian Chandler-Dovis.
On one hand, she pointed out, this policy could take away business from Airbnb hosts if the platform is blocking potential guests.
"But I do understand and live in a residential neighborhood where sometimes people come in and have parties, and it's really no fun when you're raising kids and they have school the next day," she added.
Airbnb said it will also require guests who are allowed a booking to sign off on the platform's strict no-party policy, adding if they break the rule, they face suspension or removal from the site.
"I don't know how well it's going to work, but if you sign those terms and conditions, you're basically okay with Airbnb doing whatever they want to do," Marks told CBS 8.
But Ken Kyles is not okay with this AI strategy, or with Airbnb's general ban on parties.
"When you're spending that kind of money, for you to have rules and regulations seems kind of unfair," Kyles said, "especially for them to start profiling people to decide who can come and who can't."
Germinaro said he had more questions.
"Who is going to get rejected from renting, and if it is just going to be for parties, or if they can use 'parties' as an excuse to discriminate against certain guests?" he asked.
In a statement, Airbnb said, "When it comes to how we use technology like AI, we're focused on taking a thoughtful approach that aims to benefit Hosts, guests, and neighborhoods. We're optimistic these measures will help have a positive impact for the communities we serve."
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