Los Angeles Airport Tests AI-Powered Waiting Chairs That Adjust to Passenger Needs

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) this week launched a groundbreaking new pilot program, testing AI-powered waiting chairs that can automatically adjust to a passenger’s body type, weight, and preferences, to create the most comfortable waiting experience possible.

The new chairs, developed in partnership with seating technology firm SmartSeat, use artificial intelligence and sensors to learn about the passenger as soon as they sit down. The sensors measure the passenger’s weight, height, and posture, and automatically adjust the chair’s lumbar support, seat height, and backrest angle to create the perfect position for that passenger.

“ For too long, waiting chairs have been one-size-fits-all, but we’re all different,” said Dr. James Wilson, the lead researcher on the project. “A chair that’s comfortable for a 6’5” man is going to be too big for a 5’ woman, and a chair that works for someone with back pain isn’t going to work for someone who just wants to relax. These AI-powered waiting chairs fix that, by automatically adjusting to each passenger, to give them the perfect seating experience.”

The chairs also learn the passenger’s preferences over time. If a passenger often adjusts the chair to a more reclined position, the chair will remember that, and automatically adjust to that position the next time the passenger sits down. Passengers can also control the chair using a smartphone app, adjusting the position, turning on the heating or cooling feature, or even ordering food and drinks directly from the chair.

The chairs also include all of the standard smart features that passengers expect, like integrated USB-C and wireless charging, real-time flight information displays, and IoT sensors that help the airport track usage and maintenance. But the AI adjustment feature is what makes them unique.

The pilot program is being rolled out in LAX’s Tom Bradley International Terminal, with 100 of the new chairs being installed in the gate area for international flights. The airport will test the chairs for six months, collecting data on passenger satisfaction and usage, to see if the technology is worth rolling out to the rest of the airport.

“ We’re always looking for new ways to improve the passenger experience at LAX,” said Justin Erbacci, CEO of Los Angeles World Airports. “Waiting for a flight can be stressful, especially for international travelers who often have long layovers. These new AI-powered waiting chairs are designed to make that wait as comfortable as possible, and we’re excited to test them out.”

The response from passengers has been overwhelmingly positive, with early tests showing that 94% of passengers who used the chairs said they were more comfortable than traditional waiting chairs. Many passengers said that the automatic adjustment feature was a game-changer, especially for passengers with back pain or other mobility issues.

“ I have chronic back pain, and it’s really hard for me to sit in regular waiting chairs for long periods of time,” said Maria Rodriguez, a traveler from Mexico who was one of the first to use the new chairs. “But this chair automatically adjusted to my back, and it was so comfortable. I was able to sit there for my entire 3-hour layover, and my back didn’t hurt at all. It was amazing.”

Business travelers have also been loving the chairs, saying that the ability to adjust the chair to a working position makes it easier to get work done while they wait. “I often have to work while I wait for my flight, and these chairs let me adjust the position so that I can work comfortably,” said John Smith, a business traveler from New York. “It’s way better than sitting in a stiff chair, hunching over my laptop.”

If the pilot program is successful, LAX plans to roll out the AI-powered waiting chairs to all of its terminals over the next two years, replacing more than 10,000 traditional chairs. The airport is also looking to add new features to the chairs, like integrated language translation, to help international travelers.

According to industry analysts, AI-powered waiting chairs are the next big trend in the public seating industry, as more and more facilities look to use technology to personalize the user experience. Over the next decade, analysts predict that AI-powered seating will account for more than 20% of all public waiting chair sales, as the technology becomes more affordable and widespread.