How a Tiny Country Built One of the Smartest Airlines in the World

How do you take a national airline in one of the most remote countries on Earth and turn it into an AI powerhouse?

When I sat down with Mike Parsons, Chief Data & AI Officer at Air New Zealand, I didn’t expect stories that ranged from ice hockey to enterprise agility, or how taking photos of 30,000 meal trays became a breakthrough AI project.

In this episode, we explore how a small nation is leading in AI transformation, responsible AI, and enterprise agility, all while staying true to its Kiwi roots.
If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build a trust-first, culture-led AI strategy that actually works, you’ll want to hear this one.

IN THIS EPISODE
(00:00) From chess boards to dashboards - the unlikely tech journey begins
(02:33) The ice hockey lesson that shaped his leadership
(03:40) Wall Street burnout meets Kiwi reinvention
(06:22) How isolation made New Zealand the perfect AI lab
(08:47) What Māori wisdom can teach us about building ethical AI
(10:57) The AI experiment that started with 30,000 airplane meals
(13:45) The inside story of Air New Zealand’s OpenAI deal
(19:44) When 1,500 custom GPTs changed how an airline works
(23:47) The ROI myth every AI leader needs to rethink
(26:24) How to get 18,000 people excited about using AI at work
(31:22) Why agility, not hierarchy, fuels AI success
(40:17) The invisible rules that keep AI (and planes) safe
(45:33) Can a small country set the global AI standard?
(49:38) Your 2035 flight: smoother, smarter, still human
(53:02) A love letter to humanity in the age of machines

Our Guest - Mike Parsons
Mike Parsons, Head of AI at Air New Zealand, is reshaping aviation through bold, human-centered AI. From analyzing 30,000 in-flight meals to rolling out ChatGPT Enterprise across the airline, he’s proving that innovation can thrive in New Zealand’s skies. With a career spanning Wall Street, analytics, and aviation, Mike brings rare leadership and a deep commitment to ethical, responsible AI.
Follow Mike Parsons:
LinkedIn:   / mikeairnz  
X: https://x.com/mike_parsons_nz?lang=bn

Our Host - Dr. Ayesha Khanna
Dr. Ayesha Khanna is a globally recognized AI expert, entrepreneur, and CEO of Addo, an AI engineering firm helping businesses leverage AI for growth. With 20+ years in digital transformation, she advises Fortune 500 CEOs and serves on global public and private boards and Singapore government agencies.

A thought leader in AI, Dr. Khanna has been recognized as a groundbreaking
entrepreneur by Forbes, named Edelman’s Top 50 AI Creators (2025), and featured in Salesforce’s 16 AI Influencers to Know (2024). She is also Co-Chair of Fortune AI Brainstorm Conference in Singapore.

Committed to diversity in tech, she founded the charity 21C Girls, which taught thousands of students the basics of AI and coding in Singapore, and currently supports mid-career women in tech through her education company, Amplify.

Follow Dr Ayesha Khanna:
Website: https://www.ayeshakhanna.com/
LinkedIn:   / ayeshakhanna  
Instagram:   / ayeshakhanna  
X: https://x.com/ayeshakhanna1

ABOUT AI Across Borders
This is AI Across Borders, a podcast about the people reimagining the world through AI, technology and leadership. From digital inclusion in remote communities to bold voices shaping policy and innovation, each episode explores how AI impacts culture, business and everyday life everywhere.

Follow AI Across Borders:
Website: https://www.aiacrossborders.co/
LinkedIn:   / about  
Instagram:   / aiacrossborders  
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