AI at work: Logistics as the next frontier

Beyond Chatbots: Invisible AI Powers a New Era of Logistics Efficiency and Safety

The Web Summit Lisbon 2025 session, “AI at Work: Logistics as the next frontier,” explored the transformative power of “invisible AI” – the technology quietly operating behind the scenes of daily life. Moderator Zhenmin Ma, Editor-in-Chief (digital) of Harvard Business Review China, introduced the discussion on how AI is revolutionizing logistics, a complex and essential global industry.

Ms. Heidi Wyle, Founder & CEO of Venti Technologies, shared her company’s pioneering work in autonomous vehicle software for logistics. Venti Technologies, co-founded with MIT Professor Daniella Rutz, operates the only complete fleet of autonomous trucks in the West, running 24/7. These vehicles have achieved and even surpassed human productivity levels in enclosed yards like ports, airports, and warehouses.

Ms. SongYee Yoon, Managing Partner at Principal Venture Partners and a human-centered AI advisory council member at Stanford University, highlighted her firm’s investment in AI-native companies. She believes these companies will lead the coming decades, much like digital-native companies dominated the past. Ms. Yoon expressed excitement about Venti Technologies, one of her portfolio companies, and its innovative approach.

The panelists discussed why logistics is ripe for AI transformation. Ms. Wyle emphasized logistics as the enormous backbone of the global supply chain, essential for delivering goods. She envisions AI simplifying and structuring this chain, leading to a new revolution that creates a single, interconnected global supply network.

Ms. Yoon added that logistics is a $20 trillion industry, with AI projected to grow tenfold in the next decade, representing about 10% of global GDP. The industry now possesses the necessary technology, data, and policy tailwinds to embrace digitalization. Furthermore, geopolitical situations demand more flexible supply chains, and a massive labor shortage in various parts of the world makes automation a necessity.

Bringing AI into complex real-world environments presents unique challenges and opportunities. Ms. Wyle explained that Venti Technologies addresses the estimated $600 billion annually lost in yard inefficiencies. Their autonomous fleet, equipped with LDAR technology, creates a perfect real-time map, allowing them to precisely track container locations, a capability often superior to traditional methods like drone surveillance.

A video demonstration showcased Venti’s autonomous trucks operating in a large container port. The distinctively designed vehicles navigate complex environments, adhering to road markings, managing traffic, and precisely positioning themselves for container loading and unloading. The system operates autonomously, even in challenging conditions like monsoon rain, demonstrating its robustness and reliability.

This automation has resulted in a 25-40% decrease in costs and a 25% increase in productivity. Ms. Wyle stressed the importance of developing technology hand-in-hand with operations, integrating the wisdom of experienced human logistics professionals into AI algorithms. This ensures a collaborative approach where robots handle repetitive tasks, while humans focus on strategic planning and problem-solving.

Ms. Yoon elaborated on responsible and ethical AI, noting Venti’s 20 months of real-world operation with less downtime than human drivers and an error rate of less than one inch for precise parking. This accuracy is critical for safety and efficiency. AI allows humans to concentrate on higher-level tasks such as planning for downtime, optimizing fuel usage, and preparing for external shocks like severe weather conditions.

The development of digital twins for factories and global supply chains further enhances preparedness and resilience. This human-AI collaboration leads to smoother, more efficient operations. Regarding globalization, Ms. Wyle noted that logistics challenges are universal; port operators worldwide share similar needs for productivity and safety, making AI solutions highly transferable across different countries.

Ms. Yoon affirmed that the transferability of technology is precisely why AI logistics is attractive to investors. Unlike localized problems, the core principles of safety, efficiency, and resource management in logistics are globally consistent, offering immense potential. Looking to 2035, Ms. Wyle provocatively predicted “dark ports” with minimal human presence, akin to dark factories, due to widespread automation.

Ms. Yoon added that human linear thinking often fails to grasp exponential changes. She cited the historical example of the telephone inventor whose vision was limited by the assumption of human operators. Similarly, AI will bring structural changes to logistics that are currently hard to imagine. For business leaders, Ms. Wyle advised preparing for the unexpected and solving challenges incrementally, while Ms. Yoon urged flexibility, open-mindedness, and agility to navigate the unforeseen transformations ahead.