PXCom has unveiled SkyVerse, a software for wireless IFE and inflight connectivity, with a key feature being an AI-based graphic user interface (GUI). The software is an upgrade to the company’s SKyView seatback screen solution.
The AI GUI brings in what the company claims to be the first standalone inflight chatbot for IFEC. When a passenger connects to the portal, they engage with a persona-based GUI chatbot dedicated to personalising their digital experience. The GUI dynamically learns and adapts based on its interactions with passengers, and automatically tailors and presents personalised IFE content recommendations, as well as creating data that helps deepen airlines’ understanding of their passengers in the digital world.
SkyVerse is currently installed on a Dell Precision server, through a partnership with Dell Inc. PXCom says an airborne version of the server is coming soon as the company finalises the rollout of the AI system with a few select IFEC hardware providers.
PXCom acknowledges that AI can be extremely resource consuming, and the company’s AI team are working upstream with airline marketing teams to analyse defined passenger personas, organising automated AI training sessions, and entering actual metadata into SkyVerse.
As a result, provided that the passenger agrees to be identified at the portal connection via their seat number, the strategy ensures that the appropriate recommended content is highlighted, and suitable targeted advertising delivered – related to the onboard retail catalogue or promotions for activities at the destination, for example.
“Since we are only talking about metadata transfers to the aircraft, such operations can be done via 4G a few minutes before boarding,” explained Cyril Jean, CEO of PXCom. “This operation can be done directly from PXCom’s cloud-based server, or even via crews’ smart ePOS, directly within the passenger manifest.”
