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Is AI in a Bubble? What Happens When Hype Meets Regulation
AI "bubble" talk usually collapses into a lazy binary: everything is hype, or everything is inevitable. In this episode, we break it apart properly — drawing on years of building and operating aviation data platforms where reliability and cost structures matter more than narratives.
Show Notes
Alex Brooker brings back Ian Painter, Oli Deakin, and Adrian McKenzie for a deep dive into whether AI is in a bubble. The panel draws on years of building and operating aviation data platforms to separate hype from substance, examining where reliability and cost structures matter more than narratives, and what happens when regulation meets rapid AI adoption.
Click to expand the full episode transcript (9,888 words approx.)
Use cases discussed
Aviation AI use cases from our catalogue that this conversation touches on.
Implement chatbots and virtual assistants to provide quick and efficient customer support, freeing up human staff.
Panel explicitly discusses chatbots as the first obvious AI product everyone builds, now globally saturated, with no clear next-generation innovation following.
Read use caseAutomated air traffic control and conflict resolution using AI-powered decision-making systems.
Oli explicitly names AI running air traffic control as an example of where AI becomes utility-grade infrastructure requiring government ownership.
Read use caseAutomated data analysis to generate insights and inform strategic decision-making
Panel's stated background is building and operating aviation data platforms where AI-driven insights underpin strategic decisions; central to episode framing.
Read use caseEp 4: Dude, Where's My Car? The Hidden Cost of Broken Indoor Navigation
Ep 6: The Telecom-to-Aviation Playbook for Scaling Airspace Systems
Building AI for Aviation?
Airside Labs helps aviation organisations validate AI systems before deployment. From adversarial testing to compliance evaluation, we bring 25+ years of aviation data expertise to ensure your AI is safe, compliant, and production-ready.
About the Travel Tech Podcast
Hosted by Alex Brooker, founder of Airside Labs, the Travel Tech Podcast features authentic long-form conversations with leaders, innovators, and startup founders shaping the future of aviation and travel technology. No scripts, no sponsors, no sales pitches — just real conversations about building technology that matters.