1
00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,719
Speaker 1: It might seem far fetched, but Boston based Merlin Labs

2
00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:05,600
Speaker 1: as well in its way to developing a pilotless plane.

3
00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:08,560
Speaker 2: Takes off all by itself, flies does things like talk

4
00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:12,720
Speaker 2: to air traffic control and follows instrument flight routes and lands.

5
00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:15,920
Speaker 1: CEO Matthew George is describing what the company's AI and

6
00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:19,240
Speaker 1: computer powered planes can already do. They're going public early

7
00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:21,200
Speaker 1: this year. For now, the tech is mostly aimed at

8
00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:24,400
Speaker 1: military cargo planes to help them fly with just one pilot,

9
00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:26,640
Speaker 1: but he says the eventual goal is indeed to make

10
00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:29,960
Speaker 1: planes completely autonomous. I asked people would feel comfortable flying

11
00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:31,960
Speaker 1: on a plane with no pilot on board. He said

12
00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:34,720
Speaker 1: people will get used to it, but maybe not anytime soon.

13
00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:37,720
Speaker 2: There's going to be a very long time before you're

14
00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:40,479
Speaker 2: showing up at Logan and seeing an airplane either with

15
00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:42,240
Speaker 2: one pilot or no pilot so board.

16
00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:45,480
Speaker 1: North America's largest pilot union has come out against technology

17
00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:48,479
Speaker 1: like this, saying nothing can replace human skills in the cockpit,

18
00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:50,800
Speaker 1: but George says there's a pilot shortage and this will

19
00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:54,120
Speaker 1: only help Kyle Shaffle to be busy. Boston's news radio