As AI technologies – from machine learning and computer vision to generative AI – continue to shape aviation operations, their influence on aviation security (AVSEC) has become both powerful and complex. This two-part panel will explore the shifting landscape of AI in airport security, asking the right questions in Part 1, and offering grounded, experience-led answers in Part 2. AVSEC is under pressure to do more with less – faster throughput, higher accuracy and seamless passenger journeys – all while managing risk and maintaining public trust. This panel brings together expert voices to examine whether AI is just a cost-saving tool, or if it can genuinely transform AVSEC for the better. Panelists will be available in the break to the audience to discuss the topics covered in Part 1 and provide input into Part 2. In Part 1, the panelists will unpack the real and perceived capabilities of AI in airport security, framing the fundamental questions the industry must ask before automating high-stakes decisions. What types of AI are currently deployed in airport environments (ML, NLP, video analytics, computer vision, Gen AI)? How is AI framed and understood by those deploying it? Is it narrow, embedded in products, or a standalone solution? What new capabilities does generative AI offer compared to traditional systems? Is AI in AVSEC primarily about reducing cost or about doing something fundamentally new? What does enhancing operational efficiency really mean? How can AI add value beyond simply streamlining existing processes?

• What AI in AVSEC really means in practice – and where Gen AI fits in
• How the framing of AI shapes its use and perceived value
• How to distinguish between hype and real capability in security-focused applications
• The ethical, operational and strategic questions that must precede AI adoption in AVSEC settings