Airbnb Discloses $7.1M IP Sale to Chesky's Private AI Lab

Airbnb's latest quarterly 10-Q discloses that a 'recently formed and privately held' artificial intelligence lab controlled by CEO Brian Chesky paid the company $7.1 million in cash for certain intellectual property, with Airbnb retaining the right to invest in future financings and a license to use the lab's technology internally, The Information reported.

The filing says Chesky 'is the founder of, holds a controlling equity interest in, and performs services for the AI Lab,' and that Airbnb's Chief Technology Officer, Ahmad Al-Dahle, also holds an equity interest in and performs services for it. 'Chesky has so far self-funded the AI lab' and plans to continue financing it, according to the filing summarized by Techmeme.

The agreement also gives Airbnb 'the right to invest in future AI Lab equity financing rounds at Airbnb's election' and a license to certain AI Lab intellectual property 'for internal use in Airbnb's business.'

Several specifics are missing from the disclosure: it does not name the AI Lab, place a valuation on it, describe what intellectual property changed hands, or say who else holds equity alongside Chesky and Al-Dahle.