OpenAI acquires AI travel startup Odessia
Founder Francis Davidson is joining the AI lab, while the deal terms remain undisclosed and the product is no longer running.
Key points
- Francis Davidson says OpenAI has bought Odessia, an AI travel agent.
- Terms of the deal were not disclosed, and TechCrunch described it as likely an acqui-hire.
- Sequoia led a $6 million pre-seed funding round for Odessia.
- Odessia's travel product is no longer operating.
- OpenAI has not announced new travel-specific products.
OpenAI has bought Odessia, an artificial intelligence travel startup, as reported by TechCrunch. The information came from Odessia’s founder, Francis Davidson, who announced in a post that he now works at the AI lab on travel-related projects. The price paid was not made public.
TechCrunch judged the transaction to be most likely an acqui-hire, meaning a purchase largely aimed at adding a company’s staff. An OpenAI spokesperson confirmed the hiring to the outlet and described Davidson as a founder with a track record of building businesses that help people travel.
Read also: Australia weighs criminal penalties for AI firms after OpenAI breach
Details about the startup
In his announcement, Davidson concentrated mainly on the method he used to create Odessia, which relied on managing groups of AI agents. The company is roughly a year old. Sequoia led a pre-seed funding round worth $6 million, and the firm released its travel agent about five months ago.
Davidson stated that early users relied on the product to organise trips worth millions of dollars. The tool has now been switched off, however, and it is no longer offered to anyone.
OpenAI’s position on travel
OpenAI has not revealed any fresh travel products or strategies. Its existing partners include Bookings.com, Expedia and KAYAK, the report noted.
A company representative said travel is among the subjects users ask ChatGPT about most often. The firm noted that 1.2 billion people use the chatbot weekly for daily tasks, such as checking health questions, planning meals and making trips. When it introduced its ChatGPT agent in July 2025, travel was already listed as a possible application.
Davidson’s earlier venture
Davidson is a familiar name in travel circles. While still a student in 2014, he set up Sonder, a firm similar to Airbnb that rented upscale flats on a short-term basis in major cities around the world.
The pandemic hit Sonder hard. The firm later listed through a SPAC but raised less than it needed, Davidson explained in June 2025 when he stepped down as chief executive. After a major deal with Marriott collapsed, Sonder filed for bankruptcy and shut down its operations. In 2026 a bankruptcy trustee transferred the brand name, trademarks and web domain to TravelAI, which now runs a guide to the type of rental properties Sonder once offered. Before its decline, Sonder had become a unicorn with revenues of $143 million.
Why the deal matters
The move points to AI firms’ growing interest in travel, which is one of the most common reasons people use personal AI assistants. TechCrunch noted that Davidson’s history, including the collapse of Sonder, is the kind of experience Silicon Valley often values. It remains unclear what OpenAI will build in travel now that he has joined.
Frequently asked questions
What did OpenAI acquire?
OpenAI acquired Odessia, an AI travel agent startup, according to its founder Francis Davidson. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Is Odessia still available?
No. Davidson said the tool has been switched off, though early users had used it to organise trips worth millions of dollars.
Who is Francis Davidson?
Davidson founded the travel startup Sonder in 2014 as a college student. He now works at the AI company on its travel plans.
Sources
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