AI Isn’t Replacing Pilots but it is Revolutionizing Airline Operations
Auto, Aviation & Transportation
Aviation companies often find themselves working with slim profit margins, but AI could be a way to boost productivity across the sector. Patrice Caine, CEO of Thales has spoken of AI being assistive, rather than it being used as a tool to replace processes entirely.
Data and AI are Transforming the Aviation Sector
By now, we are used to seeing technology transform entire sectors and reshape operations. The question is to what extent will AI be integrated?
Will it be like agriculture where large job displacement was seen, or will it be more like the entertainment industry, where companies are adapting their operations to cater for the rise of streaming, social media, and digital alternatives? A great example of this is the casino industry, where the internet provided new opportunities like a live chat and live stat updates, seen in titles such as Paddy Power’s Aviator game.
A company leading the way with AI integration is Air France-KLM, which has more than 80 projects that use AI. These projects are leveraging generative AI to speed up information transfer and improve efficiency. For example, project FOX is a tool used for analysing customer feedback and sharing it throughout the company. While it’s clear that AI will require many further developments before fully replacing pilots, the ways AI is being used to augment the aviation industry for both customers and employees is evolving quickly.
Harnessing Tech and Assisted Intelligence
Other tech movements in the aviation sector include plans to respond to customers in 85 languages. This software is going to be installed on the tablets of agents who work at Air France, with it scheduled for use in 2025 at the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. Airport operator Groupe ADP have made many investments, and have also explored other opportunities to use AI and advanced tech to bolster operations.
Voice recognition software is being adopted as a way to answer any phone calls that could come into the airport. This will help to reduce the amount of unanswered phone calls from 50% to just 10%. Airport operators also hope to streamline shuttle rotations with the help of Wintics, who specialize in extracting data from real-time surveillance images. As air travel grows, wait times are set to decrease, which is currently a major shortcoming within the aerospace industry.
More and more passengers are coming through airports and this is leading to more constrained spaces. There’s room for improvement here too, and many airlines, including United Airlines and Delta, are looking into using facial recognition as a way to increase airport security. The issue is that this requires data synchronization and coordination, which is lacking currently.
Moving forward, it seems that the aviation sector is going to be using AI more and more. Contrary to what a lot of people think, it’s not being used to replace core services, which could be detrimental to the aviation industry. Instead, it’s going to be used to make existing processes more efficient, with a focus on safety and practicality. With new partnerships forming all the time, it’s certainly an exciting time for the aerospace industry.
