Just a theory of mine which makes sense of the platform redesign and the AI role in controlling and directing the user's Search activity.
The more time the user spends Searching the more data is collected. The user's profile is expanded every minute and developed and sold for more coin.
Check out the Hopper site and study it's layout and graphics and it's stated role and purpose in managing a company's AI systems.
Imagine how much data harvesting income the vast Airbnb global community would generate. Imagine how delighted the Stockholders would be with Brian Chesky for making this bold move.
Keep in mind Brian Chesky majored in Graphic Arts in College. And Joe Gebbia majored in Computer Sciences. And the third partner Nate Blechanczjk I believe was brought on board for general Business Management role.
The very idea of making tons of money from the vast pool of users globally by selling their consumer data is on par with the very idea of going Public selling stocks.
The eye candy glamour Listings spread across the middle of the front page are bait for the viewer to bite and browse for a while, then getting back to why they went on Airbnb in the first place was get a place to stay. All of us mom and pop Hosts who have worked to build a small business with out properties are the quaint reminders of how Airbnb came to be now standing in line behind other "products" which generate revenue for the company.
Susan