Captain Jeremy Burfoot, author of The Secret Life of Flying

For at least the last 25 years, it’s been mandatory for computers to land large commercial aircraft in low visibility conditions caused by fog. This is because humans are subject to errors caused by spatial disorientation and incorrect interpretation of visual cues, whereas computers are not.

Given that a majority of aircraft accidents are caused by pilot error, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) promises a giant leap forward in safety for aviation. AI is already far more powerful than the human brain and continues to grow in power in almost an exponential way.

So, imagine how it will be when you can eliminate human error onboard the aircraft and also enhance safety and efficiency in air traffic control. What’s not to like about this? Of course, it’s not going to happen tomorrow because aircraft would have to be built with the ability to use all that computing power. That will take some time.

This then raises the question, will pilots be replaced by AI on aircraft? The answer is, in theory, yes. But we need to understand what is happening in the development of AI to answer this properly. AI could be the best thing that ever happened to humans or the end of humanity. In the wrong hands, AI could destroy us all. The problem with humans is greed and the need for power. Not only is AI already in the wrong hands, but the speed at which is being developed far exceeds the effort and thought that is going into controlling it to keep it safe.

If, in theory, aircraft could be controlled by AI, what happens if the AI is either in the wrong hands or goes rogue? That’s not a great scenario on an aircraft. Even if you had a person monitoring it on the aircraft, it wouldn’t just be a matter of switching it off if it started to misbehave. This bears thinking about.

Taking this one step further, what happens when AI becomes effectively ‘conscious’. Will it decide that humans are the biggest danger to the planet? That’s not a pretty scenario. Here’s where you can do your bit. Many of you will know that to use ChatGPT effectively you need to first ‘train’ the AI by giving it the exposition or given circumstances of the issue you are asking about. Given that all of our interactions with AI are effectively training it, we need to be especially careful to let it know that humans are good. I always say thank you to the AI after it’s helped me. It always responds in a delightful way. Try it. It’s quite an eye-opener.

For more thoughts on the future of aviation, check out my book, The Secret Life Of Flying.

The Secret Life of Flying by Captain Jeremy Burfoot

How does a plane stay up in the air?
Does the Mile-High Club actually exist?
When you flush the toilet, where does it all go?

Buckle up for some turbulence because nothing flies under the radar for Captain Jeremy Burfoot.

With more than 35 years of airline experience, the former Qantas pilot presents an Airbus-load of stories about unruly passengers and cockpit clashes, and expertly navigates the bizarre myths surrounding everyday air travel. He explains important details like why plane wings actually bend, which in-flight surfaces carry the most germs and how to make plane food taste better.

Jam-packed with hilarity, horror stories and honest insights, The Secret Life of Flying is part memoir and part guide to the skies – a razor-sharp and First Class read for anyone who has ever wondered who’s really flying the plane …

Get your copy here.