Platform will feature 3-D virtual hubs, virtual training, gamified environments, simulated experiences New partnership to take advantage of AI evolution to revolutionize aviation industry: Emirates COO LONDON: Emirates Group and Amazon Web Services on Wednesday announced a new partnership to develop an immersive extended reality platform for the UAE airline’s employees. Designed specifically for cabin crew, new joiners, and industry partners, the new iXR platform will feature 3-D virtual hubs, virtual training, gamified environments, and simulated experiences. Adel Al-Redha, Emirates’ chief operating officer, said: “Our vision is to build a meaningful, practical, and rewarding XR capability that takes advantage of artificial intelligence’s evolution. “We are using XR capability that is scalable and spans across the breadth of our group’s brands and businesses. “It reflects our commitment to spearhead and entrench innovation and cutting-edge technologies in aviation for the benefit of our customers, communities, and the industry.” Powered by AWS spatial computing and AI, the first-of-its-kind platform will deliver technical capabilities with photorealistic experiences accessible across next-gen wearables, tablets, and mobile devices. Initially, iXR will focus on a collaborative hub and social space, cabin crew training, and employee onboarding. “In the first phase, iXR will help cabin crew interact and familiarise themselves with the platform in an interactive, high-fidelity 3-D environment which they can explore at their convenience, leading to greater knowledge transfer and employee satisfaction. “During this phase, we will also develop our employee experience using iXR to seamlessly assimilate our people within the group’s business, community and culture,” Al-Redha added. Emirates will also use the platform to transform the onboarding experience for new recruits, helping them “quickly and visually learn about the organization, its people, culture, and what it is like living in Dubai.” AWS vice president of professional services, Al Opher, said the new partnership would have a profound impact on training, design, and innovative service propositions in the aviation industry, allowing staff to train in safe, immersive, performance-oriented, and efficient environments. “Extended reality is a rapidly emerging technology that will propel the aviation industry into the future. Together, we are revolutionizing the travel industry and raising the bar for new, exemplary experiences,” Opher added. Featuring advanced technologies such as Epic Games’ Unreal Engine, iXR is set to launch later this year, marking another milestone in Dubai and the UAE’s commitment to digital innovation and progress.