Airbnb’s “Smart Pricing” algorithm has fueled complaints from Black hosts and guests about racial discrimination when using the online lodging tool.
As noted on the official Airbnb website, Smart Pricing lets users set prices to automatically go up or down based on changes in demand for listings. A new study from researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found that the feature, which launched in 2015 to assist users in securing more bookings, has made racial disparities worse.
As noted on the official Airbnb website, Smart Pricing lets users set prices to automatically go up or down based on changes in demand for listings. A new study from researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found that the feature, which launched in 2015 to assist users in securing more bookings, has made racial disparities worse.
