AI Winter Games: From Aviation to Valet Parking, Nobody Wins.

The AI gold rush continues, and every sector is desperate to stake a claim, whether it makes sense or not. From aviation training simulations to robotic valet parking, the promise of AI is dangled like a shiny object, distracting us from the fundamental question: Is this actually progress, or just a high-tech version of rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic? The latest entrants in this AI-infused carnival include the European Aviation Training Symposium (EATS) and the parking lots of South Korea, each offering their own unique flavor of automated absurdity. source: AI is Mid

Aviation Training: Digitizing the Inevitable

EATS 2025, the 23rd European Aviation Training Symposium, shamelessly touted AI as its most referenced theme. The industry's message was clear: before AI can reach its potential, organizations must digitize and automate their foundational processes. Once in place, AI enhances assessment, feedback, documentation, personalization, and overall training quality. But let's be honest, the aviation industry has always been on the bleeding edge of automation, largely because the alternative is plummeting from 30,000 feet. So, is AI truly revolutionary here, or just the next incremental step in a long march toward pilotless planes? source: AI is Mid

VR/XR and immersive learning also made a strong showing. Delegates noted that immersive technology is no longer future-looking but now a practical, rapidly expanding part of modern training pathways. Throw in some Gen Z learning behaviors, digital-first expectations, simulation-rich learning environments, and game-based training, and you have a recipe for a generation of pilots who are more comfortable swiping than stick-and-rudder flying. But as any seasoned aviator will tell you, there's no substitute for experience—something AI can't simulate. source: AI is Mid

Robotic Valets: Automating Gridlock in Urban Spaces

Meanwhile, across the globe, South Korea is tackling a different kind of challenge: parking. Kakao Mobility and Hyundai Wia are leading the charge with robot valet parking services and robot-optimized parking facilities. The promise? Increased parking efficiency by up to 40%, reduced accidents, and lower operational costs through IoT-based integrated management. Drivers simply stop their cars at the entrance, and robots take over. Sounds idyllic, right? But let's not forget that this is just another layer of automation designed to solve a problem created by, well, more automation (i.e., cars). source: AI is Mid

Experts believe robotic parking technology will serve as more than a mere convenience—it will mark a turning point in urban spatial restructuring. Once robotic parking becomes mainstream, the turning radius, parking routes, and infrastructure layouts of vehicles will all change, ultimately enhancing urban space efficiency and paving the way for a sustainable, eco-friendly city ecosystem. Or, you know, we could just take public transportation. But where's the AI hype in that? source: AI is Mid

The Illusion of AI Progress and Automation

Both of these examples highlight a central truth about AI: it excels at automating existing processes, but rarely addresses the underlying problems. Instead of rethinking urban planning or reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, we're getting robot valets. Instead of fostering genuine human connection and critical thinking in education, we're getting AI-powered feedback and documentation. It's a classic case of mistaking technological advancement for actual progress. source: AI is Mid

So, as we barrel headlong into this AI-dominated future, let's keep a healthy dose of skepticism in our back pocket. Because while the promise of AI is seductive, the reality is often just a more efficient way to dig ourselves into the same old holes. And remember, in the grand theater of technological hype, the only thing more absurd than the performance itself is the audience's unwavering belief in its authenticity. source: AI is Mid