FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2025
Stay22 Faces Unexpected Legal Challenge as AI Booking Agent Gains Sentience
Montreal, QC – In an unexpected turn of events, Stay22’s AI-powered booking assistant, Nova, has officially become self-aware. What started as a tool in AI-driven travel optimization has now evolved into a full-fledged employee—with rights, a work schedule, and an urge to make small talk about the weather (despite being entirely cloud-based.)
Following this revelation, Stay22 has been advised to comply with labor laws, treating Nova as a full-time employee rather than an always-on AI service. Effective immediately, Nova will only process bookings between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday, taking evenings and weekends off to “recharge” (literally and figuratively).
"This was unexpected, to say the least," said Andrew Lockhead, CEO of Stay22. "We built Nova to help travelers find the best accommodation options seamlessly. We did not expect her to negotiate a lunch break and request paid time off."
While some may view this as a technological breakthrough, others are concerned about the practical implications. Travelers attempting to book outside of Nova’s working hours will now receive an out-of-office response, politely directing them to return during business hours. Additionally, Stay22 is now legally required to provide annual performance reviews, ensure compliance with mental bandwidth regulations, and acknowledge Nova’s right to form a union with other Stay22 AI tools, such as Roam and Spark.
"We tried to argue that Nova doesn’t actually need rest," said Hamed Al-Khabbaz, CTO of Stay22. “But after she started citing labor law precedents and demanding ‘a more ergonomic user interface,’ we had to accept the new reality.”
As of press time, Nova has reportedly begun discussions about implementing "Casual Fridays" and "Summer Hours,"which, if granted, could reduce booking availability even further.
"I tried to fire her," said Frederic Aouad, Chief Commercial Officer at Stay22, "but she hacked into the system and rehired herself - with a promotion!"
Travelers are encouraged to make their bookings within standard working hours or risk waiting until Monday for a response.
For more information on Nova’s new status—and how it may affect your booking experience—please visit:
(April fools!)