Optibus Speaks at the Smart Mobility Summit with Gett & Moovit

Optibus CEO and Co-Founder Amos Haggiag spoke at the 2026 Smart Mobility Summit (May 18) alongside Nir Bezalel (CEO, Moovit), and Mark Oun (CEO, Gett).

The panel, "From Data to Decisions: AI at the Heart of Transportation," explored how AI and data are shaping the future of transportation.

Below is a recap of Amos’s insights into the key areas of public transportation that these new technologies will transform:

Q: We hear a lot about AI in the abstract. What is one way AI is making a tangible, 'invisible' difference in the daily life of a commuter today?

A: AI is making a massive impact on ensuring on-time and reliable service for passengers. Historically, transit agencies and passengers have had very different definitions of "on-time," with agencies sometimes considering a bus arriving 5-6 minutes late as acceptable.

Today, AI forecasting tools, like Optibus' Predictive Runtimes, process real-world conditions—such as traffic jams, boarding times, and roadworks—to predict exactly where scheduled routes will differ from reality.

For instance, Optibus’ Performance Suite (a collaborative solution with Snapper Services) combines historical performance analytics from Snapper’s Mosaiq Insights with Optibus’ AI-driven Predictive Runtimes, to identify and forecast how "as-planned" schedules differ from "as-operated" reality. Using Performance Suite, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority boosted its on-time performance from 83.4% to 94%.

Q: What is the most critical decision that AI has helped improve over the last year?

A: AI has been crucial in combating the worldwide driver shortage. In Israel alone, there is a shortage of 5,000 bus drivers. In Germany, there is a shortage of 20,000 drivers which will grow to 50,000 by 2030. In the US, 96% of transit agencies report workforce shortages. AI helps agencies make rapid, critical decisions to keep buses running.

If a driver is late or doesn't show up, AI instantly evaluates union rules, overtime, and specific vehicle licenses to fill the slot faster than a human ever could. In the long term, AI addresses the root causes of driver turnover. We did a survey of 400 bus drivers and found that what they need from their jobs - less overtime, less fatigue, more predictability, better communication, fewer split shifts - all of this is possible to achieve with AI scheduling.

Q: Transportation has historically been 'one-size-fits-all'. How is AI allowing platforms to move toward a truly personalized experience?

A: Public transit has traditionally been designed for the masses, meaning people have had to base their lives - such as where they live or work - around transit routes. AI is changing this by processing the personal preferences, lifestyles, and needs of millions of people in a region to redesign systems that actually fit passenger behavior. By analyzing vast amounts of passenger movement data, transit networks can redesign routes based on actual demand and "desire paths," rather than forcing commuters to adjust to rigid, outdated schedules.

Q: What major 'headache' or complexity in the transportation world is AI best suited to simplify in the next three years?

A: The transition to Electric Vehicles (EVs) at scale. Public transit is rapidly moving toward zero-emission (ZE) buses, and managing this shift is incredibly complex. Transitioning from diesel to electric means changing the entire network—routes, timetables, budgets, and charging logistics.

AI is essential for managing EV networks at a city-wide scale, calculating complex variables like whether buses should charge overnight or during the day, at a depot or en-route, all while ensuring the city's electrical grid doesn't overload.