AI chatbots have come to Miami International Airport. What you'll see
- Miami International Airport now has artificial intelligence chatbots meant to provide "personalized support" to passengers.
- The bots have been installed at "four key entry points across the airport," according to MIA itself.
- In a press release, Miami-Dade County stated that this is part of an attempt at "enhancing the passenger journey."
Travelers at Miami International Airport (MIA) may be confronted with a strange sight – projections of artificial people suspended in tubes.
According to a press release by Miami-Dade County, Mayor Daniella Levine Cava unveiled a "first-of-its-kind AI-powered hologram chatbot," apparently developed for MIA on April 23.
"With this launch, MIA becomes the first airport in the world to deploy large-scale geo-aware, agentic AI across its digital infrastructure," reads the release.
It goes on to state that this is part of an attempt at "enhancing the passenger journey" via "real-time, location-based intelligence and natural, conversational interaction across web, mobile, kiosks, and on-site interfaces."
The bots were developed in collaboration Satisfi Labs, Mappedin and Hypervsn, and a release by the airport states that they're meant to provide support to passengers. The bots are now present at "four key entry points across the airport," including one near TSA checkpoint 4.
The environmental toll of artificial intelligence is high, and the infrastructure required to support it frequently costs the communities that it's built in – data centers cropping up across Florida have received significant pushback.
Previous modernization efforts
The airport has previously suffered from a host of issues that have proved nuisances for travelers, including green liquid falling from the ceiling and broken escalators.
The airport is currently undergoing a $9 billion modernization effort, which involves redeveloping the central terminal, expanding the south terminal and upgrading all elevators, escalators, moving walkways and bathrooms throughout the complex.
Sarah Perkel is a South Florida Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network's Florida Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.