Imagine you open the door to your home after a long trip, only to find it a complete mess. The furniture is broken, the walls are stained, the carpets are torn, and the smell is unbearable. You check your Airbnb app and realize that the guests who stayed in your home had thrown a wild party and left behind a trail of destruction.

This nightmare scenario is becoming far too common. To tackle this problem, Airbnb has implemented various measures to deter and prevent unauthorized parties. These include a global party ban, a restriction on one-night bookings for entire homes during certain periods, and a removal of guests and hosts who violate the rules.

However, these measures are not enough to stop all of the potential troublemakers. That’s why Airbnb has turned to artificial intelligence (AI) to help identify and block guests who are likely to throw house parties before they secure a booking.

CLICK TO GET KURT’S FREE CYBERGUY NEWSLETTER WITH SECURITY ALERTS, QUICK VIDEO TIPS, TECH REVIEWS, AND EASY HOW-TO’S TO MAKE YOU SMARTER

MORE: HOW TO RECOGNIZE AND AVOID BEING A VICTIM OF VACATION RENTAL SCAMS 

How does AI work for Airbnb to block ruckus partiers?

According to Airbnb’s CEO Brian Chesky, the company is using AI to analyze billions of guest arrivals and see which ones resulted in a party and which ones didn’t. The AI looks for patterns and signals that indicate a higher risk of a party booking, such as:

How recently the guest created their accountWhether the guest is trying to rent a property in the same town or city as the one where they liveHow long the guest is planning to stayWhether the booking is occurring during a festive period, such as Super Bowl weekend or New Year’s Eve

If the AI detects any of these red flags, it will either stop the booking or ask the guest for more information, until it either gets comfortable with them or doesn’t. The AI also verifies whether the listing pictures submitted by hosts match up with satellite images, to help weed out fake listings on the platform.

HOW TO ASSOCIATE A RINGTONE WITH ONE OF YOUR CONTACTS ON YOUR PHONE

MORE: HOW TO COMPARE VACATION RENTAL HOME PRICES 

Is AI effective in preventing unauthorized parties at Airbnb properties?

By using AI, Airbnb says it has reduced the number of reported parties by 55% in the past two years. This helps protect the hosts’ properties and the neighbors’ peace and quiet. It also helps the guests avoid breaking the rules and facing penalties. Airbnb’s AI system is constantly learning and improving, as it gets more data and feedback from hosts and guests.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR APPLE IPHONE FROM CYBERATTACKS WITH LOCKDOWN MODE

MORE: ARE YOU BEING WATCHED IN YOUR NEXT VACATION RENTAL 

What are the challenges of using AI for Airbnb?

While AI can be a powerful tool for Airbnb, it also comes with some challenges, such as:

Ensuring the accuracy and fairness of the AI predictions and decisionsRespecting the privacy and rights of the short-term rentersBalancing the trade-off between security and convenienceAdapting to the changing behaviors and preferences of the usersDealing with the ethical and social implications of using AI

HOW BIDEN'S EXECUTIVE ORDER WILL IMPACT THE FUTURE OF AI

Airbnb states on its platform,

"While we are optimistic that this technology will have a positive impact for the safety of our community and our goal to reduce unauthorized parties — we want to be clear that no system is perfect. We work hard to deter bad actors from using our platform, but ultimately Airbnb is an online platform that facilitates real world connections."

GET MORE OF MY SECURITY ALERTS, QUICK TIPS & EASY VIDEO TUTORIALS WITH THE FREE CYBERGUY NEWSLETTER - CLICK HERE

Kurt’s key takeaways

Airbnb is one of the leading examples of how AI can be used to improve business operations and customer service. By using AI to help prevent house parties, Airbnb is showing its commitment to creating a safe and respectful environment for its hosts and guests. However, AI is not a perfect solution, and it requires constant monitoring and evaluation to ensure its effectiveness and appropriateness.

How do you feel about Airbnb using AI to screen potential guests? Do you think it’s fair and effective? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

Ask Kurt a question, or let him know what stories you'd like us to cover.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:

Copyright 2023 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.