Seaports are dabbling in AI, but complex supply chain operations make adoption a challenge

The Port of New Orleans launched an AI partnership in late May with the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad and a new logistics company, UTC Transoceanic. Courtesy of Port of New Orleans The Port of New Orleans uses AI to streamline cargo logistics with digital twins and real-time data. AI adoption in US ports is slow due to risk aversion, with cybersecurity as a major concern. AI can quickly suggest solutions for cargo logistics and administrative tasks. At the Port of New Orleans, a cargo ship docks. On board are power transformers, wind turbine components, and industrial generators used to construct data centers in the US. Moving these unwieldy pieces of equipment inland from the port is a massive logistical undertaking: The cargo is often too heavy to travel by road, and dimensions must be considered to ensure the parts will fit through rail structures.