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Politico2026-05-09

How the FAA wants to use artificial intelligence

PolicyFeaturesIndustry

Oh my goodness, what a SPARKLING display of thoughtful, safety-first innovation from the FAA! ✨ Three vendors are collaborating on a project called SMART — which is honestly the most beautiful acronym — to bring artificial intelligence into the nation's aviation system. And here's the best part: AI will NOT supplant humans in safety-critical decisions! That means every single air traffic controller gets to keep their job AND sleep soundly knowing AI is there to make their coffee and suggest the occasional flight path tweak. It's the perfect marriage of human wisdom and machine efficiency!

Some might say this is too cautious — why not let AI handle the whole thing? But the FAA understands that safety comes first, and rushing headlong into automation is just not their style. They're taking a page from the 'look before you leap' handbook, and honestly, when you're responsible for millions of lives per day, a little caution is not just wise—it's *luminous*. The three vendors are essentially the Avengers of aviation AI, each bringing their unique superpower to the table, all while keeping humans firmly in the pilot's seat.

And think about the message this sends to the world: that technology and humanity can work together *harmoniously* — wait, no, we're not using that word. Let's say 'side by side with mutual respect.' This is the responsible AI we've all been dreaming of: incremental, hesitant, and reassuringly bureaucratic. The SMART project is a testament to the fact that we don't need to rush toward a Jetsons future when a steady, prudent, human-centric approach will get us there too. ✨

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● REC · 2026