Consultant Frank Coles emphasizes AI as a tool for enhancing ship operations, not a threat to seafarer jobs, according to Splash 247.
Consultant Frank Coles stated that artificial intelligence should be viewed as a tool to enhance ship operations rather than merely a buzzword or a threat to seafarer jobs, reports Singapore's Splash 247.
Mr. Coles noted that satellite communications and data sharing have already transformed shipping over the past 30 years. However, technology has often been layered onto manual tasks, overburdening crews. He argued that AI could provide a 'do over' by making operations more efficient and safer.
He warned that AI's impact could be catastrophic if used improperly or fraudulently, but it could be positive if applied to support humans in navigation and routine ship operations. AI-generated smart tools, he said, can free crews from mundane tasks and enhance oversight.
Mr. Coles criticized the hype surrounding AI, stating that it is often portrayed as either destroying jobs or entirely replacing humans. He contended that operators, not providers or inventors, will ultimately decide how AI is utilized in shipping.
The consultant concluded that the industry must embrace AI as a means to create more effective operations, rather than simply layering new tools onto already overburdened crews.
