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Why AI Is Slowing Down Experts Before It Speeds Up Work
AI adoption inside teams is not following the narrative most people expect — in some cases, experienced engineers actually become slower when adopting AI tools.
Show Notes
Alex Brooker brings back Ian Painter, Oli Deakin, and Adrian McKenzie to explore how AI adoption inside teams is not following the expected narrative. The panel examines how experienced engineers can actually become slower when adopting AI tools, and why trust, accountability, and organisational structure — rather than pure technical capability — create the real constraints in moving AI from experimental to production environments, particularly in safety-critical fields like aviation.
Click to expand the full episode transcript (4,037 words approx.)
Use cases discussed
Aviation AI use cases from our catalogue that this conversation touches on.
Automated flight control systems that leverage AI-based algorithms to enhance the precision and responsiveness of aircraft navigation and maneuvering.
Adrian explicitly uses manual flying to fly-by-wire to glass cockpits evolution as the central analogy for trust-building timelines in safety-critical AI adoption.
Read use caseAutomated testing and certification of avionics systems using AI-driven simulation and validation tools.
Ian explains the System Design Authority role requiring wet signatures on test records and personal liability for avionics software, directly constraining AI-assisted certification.
Read use casePersonalized training and skill development for aerospace engineers using adaptive learning algorithms and virtual reality simulations.
Oli and Ian extensively discuss junior developers losing entry-level tasks to agents, the 14% graduate decline stat, and needing to reimagine engineering career learning journeys.
Read use caseDevelop explainable AI models to provide transparency and accountability in the airline's data-driven decision-making processes.
Ian describes requiring full code comprehension by two team members and future shift to assuring system behaviour—directly the accountability and transparency challenge for AI in regulated aviation.
Read use caseEp 9: How a Simple Barcode Saved Airlines $1.5 Billion and Replaced Paper Tickets
Ep 11: The Real Reason One Broken Machine Disrupts an Entire Airport
Building AI for Aviation?
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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.