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CASTLE: training natural language search before the first real query
Airbnb uses synthetic query generation to bootstrap natural language search relevance before real user data exists.
What: Airbnb created CASTLE, a system that generates synthetic search queries and relevance labels from de-identified booking data to train search models in cold-start scenarios.
Why it matters: This approach demonstrates that structured behavioral data can serve as a viable proxy for user intent, allowing companies to ship functional AI search features without waiting for organic traffic accumulation.
Original article
Cold-start natural-language search often lacks both real queries and relevance labels. Airbnb's CASTLE jointly generates synthetic queries and labels from de-identified booking sessions. Its queries matched real guest query patterns much better than baselines, and human reviewers agreed with its relevance labels >90% of the time. Carefully governed behavioral data can bootstrap search training before meaningful traffic exists.
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