A major airport in Silicon Valley has introduced its newest staff member: an AI-powered robot named José, designed to ‘singlehandedly run his own gate’.
San José Mineta International Airport (SJC), California, is turning to artificial intelligence to help alleviate the stresses of modern travel, as US hubs continue to grapple with staffing shortages and widespread delays.
Developed by Silicon Valley-based startup IntBot, José will be stationed at Terminal B, Gate 24 (near Zoom Zone).
As part of a four-month pilot programme, the humanoid robot will greet travellers, answer questions and provide real-time flight updates in over 50 languages – all while autonomously navigating busy terminals.
According to airport officials, the launch highlights San José’s role as a live testing site for cutting-edge technology designed to enhance the customer experience.
Matt Mahan, Mayor of San José, said: ‘We expect thousands of visitors from around the world for the FIFA World Cup, and thanks to IntBot, they’ll receive clear directions, real-time terminal information, and answers in more than 50 languages.
‘We’re partnering with local start-ups to improve service delivery and raise the bar for customer experience.’
Mookie Patel, SJC Director of Aviation, added: ‘By piloting IntBot, we’re exploring how artificial intelligence can enhance the passenger journey while reinforcing SJC’s role as the gateway to Silicon Valley.’
José’s instatement couldn’t come at a more apt time, as airports around the US have descended into chaos amid massive security lines caused by the ongoing government shutdown.
Travellers are waiting in 270-minute-long queues at America’s busiest airports after nearly half the Transportation Security Administration officers called off work.
Wait times have reached nearly five hours at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas after 42 percent of TSA staff walked out on Tuesday.
Security queues snaked around the Houston airport and through an underground tunnel as staff warned travellers whose flights were departing ‘soon’ that they ‘may not clear security in time,’ CNN reported.
At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the lines were so long that they have spilled beyond screening checkpoints and into the baggage claim area.
New York’s LaGuardia Airport also saw long queues as early as 4.50am over the week, with travellers spilling into the parking lot as they waited.
The delays came as TSA staffing has been thinned by the shutdown, for which there is no immediate end in sight.
Agents have missed paychecks as a result, prompting a mass wave of callouts and even resignations that threaten to paralyse travel in the US.
As of 20 March, 133 cancellations and more than 4,000 delays had been reported nationwide, per FlightAware.
Travellers have been urged to arrive at least three hours early, beyond the usual two-hour guidance, to avoid missing their flights.
The timing is especially bad because it coincides with the spring break period during which lots of flights cross through the busiest travel hub in the US.
On 19 March, the callout rate at Atlanta’s airport soared to 38 percent, WRDW reported.
Upcoming spring breaks across Georgia and major global sporting events like the Masters golf tournament and the forthcoming FIFA World Cup could further strain the airport if the shutdown continues.
California