Amadeus employees have been testing Microsoft’s Copilot generative AI chatbot since last August. The AI assistant in Microsoft Teams can help with note-taking during meetings, listing follow-up points, and more. This has been found to be a much more efficient way of staying organized during meetings, as it allows employees to focus on the discussion rather than taking notes. The chatbot has been able to understand different accents and company-specific acronyms, making it more accessible for users.
The testing of Copilot at Amadeus started with 300 employees at various levels of the company. The company has been working to make the technology available to 6,000 employees, about a third of the company. While Amadeus is still determining the exact time-saving benefits of Copilot, employees have shown a clear preference for keeping the AI assistant as part of their daily workflow. The company has compiled an internal policy regarding generative AI and has provided training on how to use the technology effectively, encouraging employees to develop a deep understanding of how it works.
Amadeus employees have found various creative ways to use Copilot, such as summarizing long chat threads, suggesting draft text for emails, providing grammar and tone suggestions for non-native English speakers, and improving online searches and data searches within Amadeus. While there have been some bugs along the way, these have been quickly identified and solved, showing that the solution is evolving rapidly. Microsoft has integrated Copilot into its products, making it generally available to enterprise customers and sparking rising interest in AI as a back-office assistant in the travel industry.
Microsoft’s partnership with OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has provided it with exclusive access to generative AI technology. This has enabled the development of products like the new Amadeus retail system, which aims to make airline sales more user-friendly and similar to shopping on Amazon. Other pilots are underway, such as a connection that allows employees to book business trips using natural language. The adoption of AI as a tool to streamline tasks and enhance productivity in the workplace is a trend that is gaining momentum in various industries, including travel.
Overall, the feedback from Amadeus employees regarding Copilot has been positive, with many expressing a desire to continue using the AI assistant in their daily work. The company is continually exploring new ways to leverage generative AI to improve efficiency and innovation within its operations. With the rapid advancement of technology and ongoing investments in AI development, Amadeus is well-positioned to incorporate cutting-edge solutions that benefit both its employees and customers. The integration of Copilot across Microsoft’s suite of products and the success of pilot programs demonstrate the growing significance of AI as a valuable tool in enhancing workplace processes.
