Airbnb Hires Former Meta Exec as New CTO as It Leans Into AI

Airbnb Inc. has appointed Ahmad Al-Dahle, a former executive from Meta Platforms Inc., as its new chief technology officer to spearhead its artificial intelligence initiatives. This strategic move comes as the company seeks to enhance its technological capabilities and innovation in the competitive travel and hospitality sector.

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky announced the hiring of Ahmad Al-Dahle as the new Chief Technology Officer, signaling the company's commitment to integrating artificial intelligence into its operations. This move is part of a broader strategy to enhance the platform's technological capabilities.

Two years ago, companies like Meta and OpenAI publicly opposed the military use of their technologies, but recent developments indicate a shift as these firms have become entangled in U.S. military efforts, raising ethical concerns about the implications of their AI tools.

Meta has announced a significant investment in artificial intelligence, launching Meta Compute with a commitment of $72 billion to enhance its AI infrastructure for the fiscal year 2025. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to solidify Meta's position in the competitive AI landscape.

Meta has announced the closure of three virtual reality studios as part of significant cuts to its metaverse division, reflecting a strategic shift in the company's focus. This decision follows a broader reduction of 30% in the budget for the metaverse unit, indicating a reevaluation of priorities under CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Meta has launched Meta Compute, committing $72 billion to enhance its AI infrastructure in the fiscal year 2025, signaling a robust investment in artificial intelligence capabilities. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to solidify Meta's position in the AI landscape.

Meta has announced a strategic refocus on artificial intelligence hardware as it begins significant layoffs within its metaverse division, including the closure of three virtual reality studios. This shift is part of a broader 30% budget cut for the metaverse unit, indicating a major pivot in the company's operational priorities.

Meta is reportedly cutting hundreds of jobs within its Reality Labs division, which focuses on metaverse development, as part of a strategic shift towards prioritizing artificial intelligence. The layoffs are expected to affect around 10% of the division's workforce, which consists of approximately 15,000 employees. This decision follows a broader budget reduction of 30% for the metaverse unit, reflecting ongoing changes in the company's focus and priorities.