OpenAI Acquires AI Travel Startup Odessia and Hires Founder Francis Davidson
OpenAI has acquired Odessia, an artificial intelligence travel agent startup founded by former Sonder chief executive Francis Davidson. Following the transaction, Davidson announced that he has joined OpenAI to assist the artificial intelligence laboratory with its travel-related initiatives.
Financial details of the acquisition were not publicly disclosed, and the transaction is structured similarly to an acqui-hire. Following the acquisition, the Odessia travel tool has been shut down.
Background and Shutdown of Odessia
Odessia operated for approximately one year prior to its acquisition. The startup had previously raised $6 million in a pre-seed funding round led by venture capital firm Sequoia. Odessia officially launched its AI travel agent about five months ago, utilizing teams of autonomous AI agents to build its service.
According to Davidson, early adopters used the platform to help plan millions of dollars worth of travel before the tool was discontinued as part of the transition to OpenAI.
An OpenAI spokesperson confirmed the hiring to TechCrunch, highlighting Davidson's experience in building travel companies. "We're thrilled to welcome Francis to OpenAI. Francis is a proven founder who has built multiple businesses to help people travel, and we're excited he's chosen to build with us," the spokesperson said.
OpenAI's Strategy in the Travel Sector
While OpenAI has not announced specific new travel products or services, the sector remains a prominent use case for personal AI assistants. When OpenAI launched its ChatGPT agent in July 2025, travel planning was highlighted as one of its primary potential applications. The company also maintains partnerships or customer relationships with major online travel services, including Booking.com, Expedia, and KAYAK.
An OpenAI spokesperson noted that travel inquiry is a regular activity among its user base. "1.2 billion people turn to ChatGPT each week for help with everyday tasks — from understanding their health, figuring out what to make for dinner, building a budget, and even planning a trip. We see a real opportunity to make these experiences even more useful," the spokesperson said.
Francis Davidson's History with Sonder
Davidson previously founded Sonder in 2014 while attending college. Sonder operated by securing short-term leases for upscale apartments in major cities across the globe, competing in the short-term rental market. Davidson built Sonder into a unicorn valuation, generating $143 million in revenue at its peak.
However, Sonder faced financial difficulties following the COVID-19 pandemic. The company completed a public listing through a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), but Davidson later acknowledged that it failed to raise the capital required. Davidson resigned as CEO in June 2025.
After a planned operational partnership with Marriott failed to materialize, Sonder entered bankruptcy proceedings and wound down its operations. In 2026, a bankruptcy trustee sold Sonder's brand name, trademarks, and domain name to TravelAI, which currently operates the web domain as a curated guide for rental properties.
