OpenAI acquires travel AI startup Odessia, hires Sonder founder Davidson
Terms were not disclosed, and Odessia shut down its service as OpenAI brought in the Sonder founder to work on travel.
OpenAI has acquired Odessia, a startup building AI agents for travel, and hired Francis Davidson, the founder of the lodging company Sonder, to work on travel products. Davidson said on X on November 10 that he had joined OpenAI to help build the future of travel.
The acquisition terms were not disclosed. The deal is seen as closer to an acqui-hire that brings in key staff rather than a straightforward purchase of the product, and Odessia shut down its service alongside the announcement, according to aitimes.com.
An OpenAI spokesperson said the company is pleased to welcome Davidson, describing him as a proven founder with experience building several travel businesses. OpenAI did not disclose specific plans for a travel product.
A travel startup with a short history
Odessia was founded about a year ago and raised a $6 million pre-seed round led by Sequoia Capital. Five months ago it launched a service that uses multiple AI agents to plan trips.
Davidson founded Sonder in 2014 while a university student; it grew into a unicorn valued at over $1 billion by renting upscale apartments in major cities short-term. The company once recorded annual revenue of $143 million but was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and struggled with its IPO and fundraising. After a major partnership with Marriott fell through, Sonder entered bankruptcy proceedings and ceased operations, and Davidson stepped down as CEO in June 2025. In 2026, Sonder's trademarks, website domain and other assets were sold to TravelAI.
OpenAI already works with travel companies including Booking.com, Expedia and Kayak as customers or partners. A spokesperson said 1.2 billion people use ChatGPT weekly for everyday tasks such as understanding health information, deciding dinner menus, budgeting or planning trips.
Quick answers
Who did OpenAI acquire?
OpenAI acquired Odessia, a startup that builds AI agents for planning travel. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Who is Francis Davidson?
Francis Davidson founded the short-term rental company Sonder in 2014 and stepped down as CEO in June 2025. He announced on X on November 10 that he had joined OpenAI.
Is Odessia still operating?
No. Odessia shut down its service alongside the announcement of the acquisition.