Airbnb has apologised to a London-based academic after a host falsely claimed she caused thousands of pounds in damage, using images she says were digitally manipulated or AI-generated. The woman was refunded nearly £4,300, and an internal review has been launched.
The guest had booked a one-bedroom apartment in New York’s Manhattan for two-and-a-half months but left early after feeling unsafe. The host, a ‘superhost’, alleged she caused over £12,000 in damage, including a cracked coffee table, stained mattress, and damaged electronics. He submitted photos as evidence.
The woman denied the claims, noting she left the flat in good condition and had only two visitors. She spotted discrepancies in two photos of the coffee table, suggesting digital manipulation. Airbnb initially ordered her to pay £5,314, but after she appealed and provided witness testimony, the company refunded her full booking cost of £4,269 and removed a negative review.
Airbnb said the host was warned for violating terms and faces removal if another similar report occurs. The company admitted it could not verify the images. Security experts warn that AI tools make image manipulation cheap and easy, raising concerns about fraudulent claims.
