The Commercial UAV Expo, held in Las Vegas from September 2–4, 2025, brought together global leaders in drone technology to discuss the rapid evolution of the industry. One of the most compelling sessions explored how autonomy, artificial intelligence (AI), and innovation are reshaping the role of drone operators and transforming the way organizations deploy drone technology at scale.
From Pilots to System Managers: Who’s Flying the Drone?
A decade ago, drone operations relied heavily on skilled pilots with hands-on flying expertise. Today, panelists agreed, those roles are shifting toward system management, data interpretation, and strategic oversight.
“We’re past the innovation stage, where people are testing our products,” said Adrien Briod, Co-Founder and CTO of Flyability. “Now we’re in the stage where people are using our products to do their jobs every day.”
Nitin Gupta, CEO of FlytBase, described this transition as a move from piloting to problem-solving. “Drones should be invisible – we shouldn’t be worried about how the drone will fly, we should be worried about the job,” he explained. This shift places greater emphasis on business impact rather than technical operation.
Building Scalable and Sustainable Operations
Scaling drone programs requires more than just reliable aircraft. The discussion emphasized the importance of user-friendly systems, supportive ecosystems, and strong customer relationships.
Armin Ambuehl, CTO of Wingtra, noted that “for large organizations, transferring knowledge and onboarding staff becomes a big problem. The easier you make it from a hardware standpoint, the better it is for your customers.”
From a utility perspective, Ameren’s James Pierce emphasized the value of collaboration in product development. “We want to test out technology before we buy it – and we want to potentially have a part in the development of that product, so that we can help shape that development for the utility industry.”
Panelists also pointed out that drone adoption extends beyond equipment. Service providers, training programs, and ongoing support remain critical to long-term success. As Briod explained, “at the end of the day, they provide the solution… and I think that’s going to remain the case for some time.”
AI as an Industry Catalyst for the Future of the Drone Industry
AI emerged as a central theme of the future of the drone industry, with panelists highlighting its transformative potential. Bill Irby, CEO of AgEagle Aerial Systems, emphasized flexibility in facing the unknown: “AI is going to have a huge impact on this. We need to be flexible, because we don’t know how yet.”
Gupta explained that the easiest AI applications focus on data analysis, which represent “low-hanging fruit.” More complex applications, such as physical-world interactions, will require additional development and regulatory adaptation.
Briod added that while AI is powerful, it cannot replace human judgment in safety-critical contexts. “People aren’t going to say it’s OK that AI says that bridge is now safe, or that ship is ready to go back to sea. So we’re developing systems that keep the human in the center of those decisions, but they have super powers.”
AI’s role in advancing one-to-many operations, enhancing safety, and standardizing practices could accelerate the industry’s growth, provided both technology and trust evolve in tandem.
Bridging Regulation, Trust, and Technology
The conversation also touched on the interplay between technological capability and regulatory frameworks. Ambuehl reminded attendees that regulators are not always aligned with industry’s vision of operator roles shifting from pilots to analysts or managers.
Panelists stressed the need for pragmatic approaches while remaining visionary. Gupta compared the conversation to the early skepticism around autonomous cars, which now share the road with human-driven vehicles in major cities.
Building trust in regulators, in customers, and in the broader public, was identified as essential. As panel moderator Kaitlyn Albertoli, CEO of Buzz Solutions, highlighted, the future of drone operations will require careful management of both technological potential and societal expectations.
Preparing the Workforce of Tomorrow
As autonomy and AI continue to evolve, workforce development is becoming a top priority. Training now focuses less on piloting and more on analyzing data, managing systems, and solving business challenges.
Panelists envisioned a future where AI agents support operators, enabling staff to focus on higher-level problem-solving. “What differentiates us is to be able to think. To sit down and think about a problem and what the boundaries are,” Ambuehl said.
This transition underscores the need for comprehensive training, strong support systems, and education about both capabilities and limitations. As Briod concluded, “the North Star for product development is ‘Don’t make people think.’ However, we have to also educate the market about the capabilities and the value that they can get.”
The drone industry is entering a new phase where AI, autonomy, and innovation redefine the role of the operator and the value of drone technology. While challenges remain in regulation, trust, and workforce readiness, the potential for drones to transform industries is clearer than ever.
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