Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky says there's one thing Silicon Valley needs to do to change Americans' minds on AI

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky has suggested that Silicon Valley should focus on developing more consumer-facing AI products to change public perception of the technology. Chesky, a strong advocate for AI, acknowledged the growing backlash against AI among Americans during a recent interview on the Yahoo Finance podcast Power Players with Brian Sozzi.

Part of the issue, Chesky believes, is the type of AI products currently being developed in Silicon Valley. He noted that many AI startups are currently concentrating on enterprise applications rather than consumer products. He also pointed out that in the latest batch of companies at the startup accelerator Y Combinator, where he serves on the board, 159 out of 175 were enterprise-focused, rather than consumer-oriented.

Chesky believes that creating AI products that improve regular people's lives is in Silicon Valley's best interest. He stated that despite the technology's potential benefits, the general public's attitude towards AI is not favorable. A Pew Research Center report from June found that 40% of U.S. adults believe the impact of AI on society over the next 20 years would be negative, while only 16% think it would be positive.

To address this, several AI companies have recently launched feel-good ads featuring rainbow colors in an attempt to counter public fears about an AI-dominated future. Tech CEOs have also penned extensive manifestos outlining their visions for an AI-driven future, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's 6,500-word essay titled "The Future is for Everyone," published this week. However, Airbnb did not provide additional comment when contacted by Business Insider.