The Insane Amazonification of Airbnb

Do people still like Airbnb? Do people still use Airbnb? I mean, obviously they do, I’m one of them, but the last few times, I’ve ended up in the most generic-looking “homes” imaginable—in quotes because they never actually qualify. Homes are lived-in, individual, and that was always the promise of the app: to sleep in someone else’s bed. If I wanted fake comfort, I’d book a hotel. (Whose rooms now seem, somehow, realer than most Airbnb’s—and don’t require inhumanly overcomplicated lock boxes to enter.)

So I was confused when Steven Levy, our most veteran writer, said he wanted to do a Big Story on, of all the companies to care about in 2025, Airbnb. But they’re so lame! I shouted. Then Steven explained why: The company was planning to “relaunch” as … something else. Something bigger. I had to admit to a certain curiosity. What did that mean?

I’ll tell you what it doesn’t mean: Airbnb is not returning to its humble, real-people roots. But of course it’s not. Ours is a world where being good at a single thing is not only not enough—it’s figured as immoral. To succeed obliges one to succeed more, lest society be deprived of the fruits of one’s genius. Right?

I don’t know. I need a vacation. Where’s the nearest hotel?

 READ THE BIG STORY ➔ 

Airbnb has always been the perfect subject for WIRED—it sits comfortably (or rather, uncomfortably) at the uncanny intersection of software, commerce, and flesh-and-blood people. That’s why, in 2019, James Temperton descended into the scammy liminal space of short-stay management companies. His story had mass-produced furniture, call centers, inexplicable prop champagne, and the Catholic Church. 

I’ll avoid spoilers, but I will say that this one has layers. Just when you think Temperton has found the mystery man behind his bizarre Airbnb booking, another LLC, another contractor, steps in. Reading it reminded me that no matter how many revamps and re-imaginings Airbnb goes through, it is still ultimately a business based on trust. Levy’s piece outlines steps the company has taken to make sure its sellers are trustworthy, but there will always be a rogue element. This week I’d love to hear your stories about your own Airbnb and other short-term rental stays. Send me an email or leave a comment below the story. 

A few weeks ago, WIRED published a longread about North Korean workers who pose as US-based software engineers to score remote tech jobs, scamming major Western companies out of millions. WIRED readers resonated with the piece, with one of you noting that “about 50 percent of the candidates applying to our software engineering roles on LinkedIn are fake. Due to this, we video interview everyone, check references and assume nothing.” 

Tell us about your favorite WIRED stories and magazine-related memories. Write to samantha_spengler@wired.com, and include “CLASSICS” in the subject line.