‘I think it’s a mistake’: Delta CEO Ed Bastian refuses to call it ‘artificial intelligence’ because it scares people
Publish Date: 2026-04-22 17:12:00
Source Domain: fortune.com
- Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines, advocates using the term “augmented intelligence” instead of “artificial intelligence” to avoid creating fear about job displacement.
- He insists on redeploying employees freed up by automation to serve customers more directly, emphasizing a commitment to enhancing, not replacing, jobs.
- Bastian discusses the airline’s challenges, including volatile fuel prices, geopolitical shocks, and the industry’s upcoming structural changes.
- He emphasizes Delta’s aim to be “differentiated and durable,” likening it to having a “fortress balance sheet” to weather future economic shocks.
- Delta has a strong employee culture, evidenced by its place in the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list and high employee satisfaction rates, which Bastian attributes to a history of promise-keeping during tough times.
- The culture is supported by initiatives like profit-sharing and emergency savings funds to ensure employees’ financial stability and trust, which Bastian sees as crucial to the company’s durability.
- Bastian remains committed to human pilots, stressing the importance of passenger trust in aviation safety despite technological advancements.
