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An Airbnb guest is claiming their host used AI to fake images of damage to their property, per The GuardianThe London-based student was charged over $16,000 for a cracked coffee table, urine-stained mattress and other broken itemsAfter inspecting the photos, the guest determined AI was used to fake the damage based on visual inconsistencies
An Airbnb guest claims their host used AI to fake images of damage to their property, then tried to charge them for it.
A London-based student rented an apartment in New York City for two-and-a-half months. But, she decided to end her stay early after feeling unsafe, the renter told The Guardian.
After she left, the Airbnb host claimed she caused more than £12,000 (about $16,000) worth of damage. In the claims made to Airbnb, he submitted pictures of a cracked coffee table along with reports of a urine-stained mattress, a damaged robot vacuum, sofa, microwave, TV and air conditioner.
The woman refuted the claims and took a closer look at the submitted photos. After careful inspection, she found minor differences leading her to believe the host used AI to fabricate the damage.
Apartment buildings in New York City.
Getty
After reviewing the photos, Airbnb determined the guest was only responsible for about $7,000 of damage. She once again disputed the claims.
“I informed them that I can provide testimony from an eyewitness who was with me during checkout and can attest under oath to the condition in which the property was left: clean, undamaged, and in good order,” she told the outlet. “I also clearly demonstrated visual discrepancies in images of the same object (wooden table) provided by the host that show clear signs of fabrication.”
In pictures obtained by The Guardian, two photos show slightly different looking cracks in the table.
The guest alleged: “These inconsistencies are simply not possible in genuine, unedited photographs of the same object. This should have immediately raised red flags and discredited the host’s claims if the evidence had been reviewed with even basic scrutiny.”
After the Guardian’s initial report on the story, the outlet claims Airbnb told the woman they would credit her account for about $650. When she said she would never book with Airbnb again, the site reportedly offered a fifth of the cost of her booking. After refusing once again, the company refunded the full cost of the rental and her negative review from the host was taken down.
“My concern is for future customers who may become victims of similar fraudulent claims and do not have the means to push back so much or give into paying out of fear of escalation,” the woman said.
She added: “Given the ease with which such images can now be AI-generated and apparently accepted by Airbnb despite investigations, it should not be so easy for a host to get away with forging evidence in this way.”
Airbnb eventually apologized to the guest and said there would be an internal review into how the case was handled.
“This experience fell below our usual high standards, and we have been in touch with the guest to apologize and assure them they will not be charged for the reported damaged,” a spokesperson for Airbnb shared in a statement with PEOPLE.
They added: “We take damage claims seriously, our specialist team reviews all available evidence to reach proportionate outcomes for both parties, and to help ensure a fair approach, decisions can be appealed.”
According to Airbnb’s help center, hosts can send a reimbursement request through their Resolution Center. These requests are raised when the host believes guests are responsible for damage, missing items or unexpected cleaning costs. The guests then have 24 hours to respond.
“If you pay the full amount, the request will be closed,” the website says. “If you pay a partial amount, decline the request or don’t respond to the request, your host may involve Airbnb or our insurer as a next step.”
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The Guardian, who kept the identity of the guest and host anonymous, did not hear back from the Airbnb “superhost” after a request for comment.
According to Airbnb, the host has been on the platform for more than 10 years and holds a 5-star rating. They received a warning for violating the Host Damage Protection terms and will be removed if the company receives a similar report in the future.