DUBAI: Airlines may not be replacing pilots with artificial intelligence (AI) anytime soon, but aviation industry experts say new technology is already revolutionizing the way of business. “Data and AI are fantastic levers for the aviation sector,” said Julie Pozzi, head of data science and AI at Air France-KLM, ahead of the 80th meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in Dubai.
Airline executives will gather at the influential annual global summit in the UAE on Monday to discuss the latest in the industry, including upcoming AI projects. Aviation companies, long accustomed to thin profit margins, see AI as a new way to boost productivity and gain a competitive edge.
Airlines Eye ‘New Frontier’ of AI Ahead of Global Summit
AI represents an “extraordinary acceleration of technology and capabilities,” said Geoffrey Weston, head consultant on the airline industry at US-based firm Bain & Company. “When you have a lot of uncertainty, AI is really helpful for accelerating the delivery of the right information to the right people as quickly as possible,” he added.
Air France-KLM is leading the way with “more than 40 projects using generative artificial intelligence,” like the now-famous ChatGPT, to improve operations. One project includes a tool to respond to customers in 85 languages, which will be available on the tablets of Air France agents at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport in 2025.
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The airport’s operator, Groupe ADP, has also launched several AI initiatives with startups, including Allobrain, which uses voice recognition to answer phone calls, reducing the number of unanswered calls from 50 percent to 10 percent, said Alban Negret, head of ADP’s innovation division. Another subcontractor, Wintics, specializes in extracting data from real-time surveillance images to streamline drop-off areas and shuttle rotations.
Experts point out that modern aircraft, with their sophisticated self-diagnostic and control systems, are data factories that can be leveraged with AI. However, when it comes to piloting, there is no question of leaving it to algorithms. “It is up to humans to take responsibility for decision-making,” said Thales CEO Patrice Caine. “Rather than artificial intelligence, I would speak of assisted intelligence, which assists humans.”
