OpenAI acquires travel AI startup Odessia founded by Francis Davidson
OpenAI has acquired the artificial intelligence travel agent company Odessia from founder Francis Davidson in a deal announced recently.
Francis Davidson joins OpenAI team
Francis Davidson confirmed he now works for OpenAI after building his AI travel agent. The startup raised $6 million in a pre-seed round led by Sequoia before launching its tool five months ago. Davidson stated the tool helped plan millions of dollars worth of travel before shutting down. An OpenAI spokesperson confirmed the hire to TechCrunch and expressed excitement about welcoming Francis.
Sonder history and bankruptcy details
Davidson previously founded Sonder in 2014 as a college student focusing on short-term leasing of upscale apartments. The pandemic hurt the business which later went public via a SPAC without raising enough money. A key partnership with Marriott fell through leading to bankruptcy in 2025 and winding down operations. The trustee sold Sonder assets in 2026 to TravelAI which now operates as a curated guide.
ChatGPT travel usage statistics
According to OpenAI, approximately 1.2 billion individuals utilize ChatGPT weekly to manage daily activities such as arranging travel plans. The lab counts companies like Bookings.com Expedia and KAYAK as customers or partners in the industry. OpenAI has not announced new travel-specific products yet despite users frequently asking about travel plans.
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