Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky says he wishes he were 26 again because the opportunities post-ChatGPT ‘are so much more powerful’

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky expressed his longing to return to his 20s to become an entrepreneur in the current AI era. Speaking on the Silicon Valley Girl podcast, Chesky said that while he is thankful for building his business at the opportune time in 2008, the post-ChatGPT era is even more powerful. "Until the launch of generative AI, ChatGPT, I said 'Thank god I was born the time I did, because now is a tougher time,'" Chesky said.

"And then post-ChatGPT, part of me said, 'I wish I was 26 again.' Because actually, as amazing as Airbnb is, if I was 26, I could probably do something just as cool. Because the tools now are so much more powerful."

Chesky outlined a few ideas of what he would pursue if he were a new founder today, including transforming education and health with AI, as well as building an "AI Disney." He sees AI transforming the storytelling industry, as evidenced by Netflix using generative AI for a scene in El Eternauta and the Cannes Film Festival featuring an AI-generated feature film in May. Chesky believes that AI will continue to make its presence felt in visual mediums.

The Airbnb founder also predicts that the era of AI will give rise to hundreds of large companies like Anthropic and "tens of millions" of small businesses. Chesky emphasized that with just a handful of people, entrepreneurs can now start a company, something that was inconceivable even 20 years ago. He acknowledged that while AI may displace some workers, it also provides the power to create something new for those with an idea.

"People outside of Silicon Valley feel like AI is happening to them… and it’s changing their job. It’s displacing them," Chesky said. "But I am saying that everyone has the power now. And that if you have an idea, you can now make something."

Despite the potential of AI, many U.S. adults remain concerned about its impact on their careers, with half stating they feel more concerned than excited by the increased use of AI. Additionally, only around 35% of U.S. workers use AI in their jobs, with many finding the tools daunting. Chesky shared his own experience of being intimidated by AI, but advised that professionals should jump into the pool to get acquainted with the technology. He emphasized that the water may look cold, but it is not as intimidating as it seems.