GE Aerospace Takes Flight with AI-Powered Transformation

David Burns, CIO of GE Aerospace, is spearheading a new phase of digital transformation by leveraging artificial intelligence to simplify processes and accelerate innovation. Building on the company’s decade of experience applying AI across its operations, Burns shared his approach in a recent Tech Whisperers podcast episode.

Accelerating Key Business Functions

GE Aerospace utilizes AI as an accelerator for “Flight Deck,” their proprietary lean operating model. Specific applications include:

• Design: Generative AI helps produce hundreds of engine design concepts, reducing development time by more than 90%—the team recently created a hypersonic ramjet engine design concept that met all regulatory requirements significantly faster.
• Manufacturing: An AI coding assistant automates quality inspections, reducing data entry from 8 hours to just 3 seconds while improving accuracy.
• Sales: Generative AI tools create comprehensive deal proposals with improved customer response times—the GEnx team now responds more than two weeks faster.
• Service: AI predicts part needs at maintenance sites, reducing turnaround times by approximately six days and increasing on-time material deliveries by 16%.

Building on a Decade of Investment

GE Aerospace’s early investments in analytics and machine learning have created a strong foundation for generative AI adoption. The company has built one of the largest aviation industry AI patent portfolios through its own research and strategic partnerships—including a multi-year collaboration using agentic AI to enhance production readiness.

Burns emphasized that GE Aerospace defines value through the customer lens, ensuring technology investments deliver tangible benefits that meet evolving needs.