Pilots test planes flown by artificial intelligence

Added: 2026-05-27

[00:00:00]Pilots are now testing AI technology that can fly planes from takeoff to touchdown.

[00:00:05]>> Yeah, it feels like a smarter autopilot, obviously. A startup company called Merlin Labs is behind the tech. The system can fly the plane, talk to air traffic control, and help make decisions about weather and routing. Merlin Labs has hundreds of test flights already under its belt, but it's likely years away from carrying passengers. The CEO of Merlin says it's meant to work with pilots, not replace them.

[00:00:26]This is sitting alongside pilots, not necessarily replacing pilots, and enabling those pilots to do more of what they do best, which is operate aircraft safely.

[00:00:35]Boeing projects airlines world worldwide will need to hire more than 600,000 new pilots over the next 20 years, and Merlin has already secured a $100 million contract with the US Air Force to eventually fly cargo planes without pilots on board at all.