Uber definitely has built some technology that allows them to scale out a real-time ride-sharing app with payment, locations, optimizations, etc, which is a rea

Uber definitely has built some technology that allows them to scale out a real-time ride-sharing app with payment, locations, optimizations, etc, which is a real technological feat. However, I still question: 1.) how difficult that is to do (iirc its not like Lyft is far behind and there are others as well) and 2.) does uber have patents on these developments and 3.) how much of those UberXPostgres articles are just posturing to the investment community (i.e. Uber flexing it's muscles to show how it's spending that cash) vs. serious long-term competitive advantage? You're missing my point about Airbnb, by pivoting to Uber, which I think is in a totally different boat than Airbnb given that Uber does have greater control over some of their inventory than Airbnb and total control over some of the Uber inventory which Airbnb does not. Unless Airbnb starts buying apts and renting them out themselves, which be a better play for them, albeit politically disastrous most likely. As others pointed out, Airbnb has not published big engineering feats (ala UberXPostgres) nor does it need to, nor likely ever will. The point about Airbnb is that Airbnb is a retailer with total lack of control over inventory. Competitors will one day create a sleeker better platform because there's no defense for Airbnb. I think a good analogy would be dating sites. It feels like every year there's a new app: Match.com->eHarmony->OkCupid->plentyoffish->jdate->tinder->bumble, the list goes on and on. Where's the brand loyalty in dating sites? There is none because no one cares about the brand, they care about the inventory (i.e. booty) and so if a site has a better way of finding those dates (be it faster or more curated) or just better "inventory" then people are going to use those new sites. That's how I see Airbnb going. Eventually there are going to be different sites that do the same thing, but tailored to different needs. Airbnb will still be around, but it sure as hell won't be worth $30 billion dollars. Also, home-sharing is about as fickle as dating. People date until they find a mate and then stop. Most people don't live their home for more than 3 years, especially in popular Airbnb markets like NYC, LA, or SF. Therefore there's a lot inventory turn over that Airbnb has to deal with, just like dating sites, which makes it easier for a competitor to come in and swoop up people who new to home-sharing.