The Data Airlift- From Choppy Skies to an Al-steered Future

There is a 'g' in Air India's flight in the AI firmament. It stands as much for Generative AI as it does for the polite-yet-reliable posture that this Indian aviation front-runner has always been synonymous with. World's first Gen AI Chatbot for an airline and a data-savvy Maharaja- looks like Air India is all set for a 'wheels up' moment on the tech runway. And with tight seatbelts on - when it comes to data safety, trust and security.

- Pratima H

Air India is a name that, in a je ne sais quoi way, always inspires national pride, immediate trust and a fond nostalgia. However, nostalgia also comes with its own trappings. That's why modernization of this airline, after the recent change of strategic helm, is as much about digital disruptions, stratospheric experiences and technology propellers as it is about new fleets. Dr. Satya Ramaswamy, Chief Digital and Technology Officer, Air India, who himself shuttles from San Francisco to India and is a member of the IATA Digital Transformation Advisory Council, seems to have a strong grip on data as the new glass cockpit of the industry with both its pros and cons. He is also confident of the aerodynamic role of technology in this massive corporate turnaround. We chat up with him and he allows us a peek into this new flight deck of 'transformation without disruption' on the sidelines of Salesforce World Tour Essentials India 2024 in Mumbai. Sit back and find out.

So many 'new's and 'firsts happening at Air India- with a top-performing website (in airlines), game-changing notifications, the world's first Gen AI Chatbot and more. How crucial is data in all this?