Keynote at IMPACT Bucharest — “Teaching AI Up in the Air”

By: ReadyAI

In a captivating keynote at IMPACT Bucharest, Dr. Roozbeh Aliabadi, CEO and Co-founder of ReadyAI, introduced an innovative frontier in AI education: leveraging in-flight entertainment systems to teach children and young passengers about artificial intelligence. His talk, titled “Teaching AI Up in the Air,” explored how millions of cumulative hours spent in transit could be transformed into educational experiences. ReadyAI’s vision capitalizes on idle time in the skies to foster a globally connected and AI-literate generation, using flights as classrooms at 30,000 feet. With his unique approach, he demonstrated how learning AI can not only enrich travel but help build a future-ready generation.

ReadyAI’s Mission: Accessible AI Education Worldwide

Roozbeh began by revisiting ReadyAI’s journey, sharing the story of how the organization, founded in Pittsburgh in 2017, quickly established itself as a global leader in AI education. He explained that Pittsburgh, home to Carnegie Mellon University and one of the United States’ largest AI hubs, was the perfect place to launch the world’s first AI education company. In collaboration with educational institutions and global partners, ReadyAI has since grown to reach children in over 150 countries, fostering an appreciation for AI and teaching practical applications through immersive and interactive formats.

ReadyAI’s commitment to democratizing AI education has led to various initiatives, including the World AI Competition for Youth (WAICY). Designed to encourage students to apply AI to real-world challenges, WAICY provides a platform for young minds to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Through WAICY, ReadyAI has witnessed the power of youth-driven AI innovation, with students tackling everything from environmental issues to public health concerns in ways that transcend borders and backgrounds. WAICY, he emphasized, is not just a competition — it’s a movement, and the possibility of extending this movement to the skies is an exciting new step.

The AI Learning Passport: An Engaging Journey Through AI

A centerpiece of his keynote was the introduction of the “AI Learning Passport,” a gamified educational program designed to engage young travelers with the basics of artificial intelligence. This “passport” marks a child’s journey through AI, allowing them to explore fundamental concepts such as perception, representation and reasoning, machine learning, human-AI interaction, and the societal impact of AI. The program is designed to be highly interactive, utilizing multimedia tools and game-based elements that make learning enjoyable and immersive. Each time a child completes a lesson, they earn a digital “stamp” in their AI passport, creating a sense of achievement while enhancing their understanding of AI.

The AI Learning Passport’s design reflects extensive research into effective educational methods. He noted that kids respond well to “unplugged” and hands-on learning experiences, which is why the program also includes a physical version distributed by flight attendants. Children receive printed activity books and interactive materials they can use in-flight, allowing them to engage with AI concepts in ways that are both educational and entertaining. By the end of the flight, they can scan a QR code to download a personalized certificate of completion, reinforcing their accomplishments and giving parents a way to celebrate their child’s progress.

Real-World Partnerships: Saudi Arabia as a Launchpad

To make this ambitious initiative a reality, ReadyAI has partnered with KAUST Academy in Saudi Arabia, a leading institution committed to technological education. He shared that ReadyAI’s collaboration with KAUST Academy represents an exciting opportunity to bring the AI Learning Passport to life, starting with flights within Saudi Arabia. Short-haul flights between Jeddah and Riyadh will serve as the testing ground for this innovative educational approach, allowing children to learn essential AI skills during trips as brief as 30 minutes.

Saudi Arabia’s commitment to technological advancement and education made it the ideal launching point for this program. He praised KAUST Academy for their vision and support, noting that ReadyAI’s presence in Saudi Arabia is the beginning of a larger mission to expand AI education globally. By bringing the AI Learning Passport to one of the world’s busiest air travel hubs, ReadyAI is positioning itself to reach millions of children each year, inspiring them to think critically about the technology shaping their lives.

The Future of Learning in the Skies: A Global Vision

Dr. Aliabadi’s, keynote underscored the transformative potential of in-flight learning, framing it as an opportunity to cultivate a globally aware, tech-savvy generation. “Imagine every flight being a journey not just to a new place, but into new ideas,” Dr. Aliabadi said. He noted that with nearly 9.4 billion passengers flying annually — 25% of whom are children — there is immense potential for in-flight education to reach a diverse, global audience. ReadyAI’s goal is to foster creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking among young learners, helping them develop an understanding of AI that will be invaluable in their future personal and professional lives.

To illustrate the potential impact, hepresented a thought experiment: if each young passenger spent just 30 minutes of their flight learning about AI, it would amount to over 1.4 billion hours of education annually. This unprecedented scale of learning would not only transform how children spend their travel time but also create a generation equipped with the knowledge and skills to navigate an increasingly AI-driven world.

He also spoke about the importance of making education accessible, personalized, and engaging. With the integration of ReadyAI’s curriculum into in-flight entertainment systems, children can select topics that align with their interests, making learning more meaningful and relevant. By leveraging gamification, He hopes to keep young learners engaged and motivated, with lessons structured to be fun and interactive. This approach, he emphasized, goes beyond traditional education methods, creating a space where entertainment and learning intersect seamlessly.

Building a Globally Minded, AI-Literate Generation

He closed his keynote with a compelling vision for the future: a world where young people are not merely passive users of technology but active participants in shaping it. Through the AI Learning Passport, he aims to create a generation of globally minded individuals who are not only comfortable with AI but are also able to apply it in meaningful ways. “Education,” he said, “should not be bound by geography, and the future of education is up in the air.” He expressed optimism that ReadyAI’s initiative will empower children to see technology as a tool for positive change, fostering a sense of agency and responsibility as they grow.

With ReadyAI’s ambitious goal of bringing AI education to flights worldwide, hehopes to inspire young travelers to envision themselves as future leaders and problem-solvers. Every boarding pass, he suggested, should represent not only a ticket to a new destination but a passport to knowledge. Whether they’re sitting in economy, business, or first class, every child should have the opportunity to learn about AI and become an active participant in its development. By transforming flights into educational journeys, ReadyAI is working to ensure that each young traveler lands not just in a new city but with a deeper understanding of the world and the role they can play in shaping it.

Join us on this journey toward the future of AI education! Let’s learn and grow together, one flight at a time! 🌍✈️

To learn more about ReadyAI, visit www.readyai.org or email us at info@readyai.org.