Meet Bridget, Your AI Concierge at LaGuardia
The next time you’re at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, specifically exiting Terminal B, keep an eye out for Bridget—a life-sized AI hologram designed to assist travelers.
Bridget stands near the Food Hall and is all set to offer real-time help with directions to gates, shops, lounges, baggage claim, and other airport essentials. She uses live mapping to guide you step-by-step. It’s kind of like having a virtual travel buddy right there with you.
As per LaGuardia Gateway Partners, who manage and develop the terminal, this hyper-realistic hologram enables “natural, intuitive conversations” with passengers. Bridget claims the title of the first fully interactive AI hologram in the aviation industry.
Currently, she can fluently communicate in both English and Spanish, and it seems there are plans to add more languages soon. Accessibility features include closed captioning, a high-contrast display, and a design that aims to be user-friendly for wheelchair users.
Bridget operates on the Proto hologram platform combined with Holomeida’s AI Concierge Wayfinder application. And for those feeling uneasy about AI encroaching on human jobs, LGP assures that Bridget is meant to enhance, not replace, human support at the terminal.
“As passenger expectations evolve, technology that improves operational efficiency while also providing memorable and personalized experiences is becoming more necessary,” explained Glenn E. Smith, Spatial Computing XP Architect.
Bridget offers more than just help; she represents a significant shift in how airports can enhance the travel experience. David Nussbaum, founder of Proto Hologram, emphasized that digital assistants like Bridget can deliver more tailored information compared to static signs or traditional video displays.
“Airports often feel chaotic, but LaGuardia’s Terminal B aims to change that narrative,” he noted. “Human interaction is key to helping travelers find their way, and for the first time, our AI-powered hologram expands what human ambassadors can do.”
Nussbaum concluded that “the future of travel begins at LaGuardia.” The introduction of AI holograms is part of the terminal’s transformation following a $5.1 billion redevelopment that wrapped up in 2022.
