Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian has stated that he prefers not to use the term 'artificial intelligence' (AI) because it creates unnecessary fear among employees about potential job losses. In an interview with Fortune at Great Place to Work's For All Summit in Las Vegas, Bastian explained that Delta refers to the technology as 'augmented intelligence' since it is designed to help employees perform their jobs more effectively rather than replace them.
Why Delta Avoids the Term 'Artificial Intelligence'
'I think it's a mistake to call anything artificial. You want to scare people? Tell them that artificial intelligence is coming for you,' Bastian told Fortune. He emphasized that Delta wants its workforce to view the technology as support, not a threat. 'I want our employees to see it as a tool to enable them to do their jobs better, not to replace them, but to enhance them,' he added.
Bastian confirmed that Delta has no plans to use AI to reduce headcount. Instead, employees whose tasks become automated could be reassigned to customer-facing roles. 'To the extent there's less need for more people at a gate or more people on a phone, we'll redeploy those people to better serve customers even more,' he said.
Industry Challenges and Delta's Strategy
Bastian also highlighted broader challenges facing the airline industry, including rising fuel prices and geopolitical uncertainty. He noted that fuel prices recently doubled in a single month, while global conflicts and trade issues continue to affect demand and operating costs. 'Carriers are going to have to reorganise in order to survive,' Bastian said, referring to airlines that rely heavily on low-cost pricing models.
Delta is focusing on maintaining financial stability by building a 'fortress balance sheet' to prepare for future disruptions, Bastian added. He also emphasized the importance of workplace culture and referenced Delta's employee profit-sharing programme, which distributes approximately 15% of the airline's profits to frontline staff. This year, Delta paid $1.3 billion through the programme.
AI in Aviation: Human Pilots Remain Essential
Regarding AI's role in aviation, Bastian made it clear that some roles will remain human-led. 'I'm never getting on an airplane without two Delta pilots on it commercially, and I don't think that's going to change anytime soon,' he stated.
