Google is now using machine learning to predict flight delays
Google has updated its Flights app with a pair of new features that should help weary (and wary) travelers get to grips with the next trip to the airport. The first uses machine learning to predict upcoming flight delays, and the second breaks down exactly what different airlines mean by “basic economy” — explaining what amenities are and are not included in so-called last class.
Predicting flight delays is probably the most interesting of these two. According to a blog post from Google, it’ll comb through historical data of flight delays to look for common patterns in late departures. These include factors like location, weather, and aircraft arriving late. Once the algorithms are 80 percent sure there’ll be a delay, the information...