Guest article: When buses learn to think - AI as a game changer in public transport
Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing bus transport: it increases flexibility, efficiency, and accessibility and creates new business models for regular service and bus tourism.
A guest contribution by Dr. Stefan Carsten, Head of the Advisory Board and Curator of the BUS2BUS Future Forum.
Autonomous shuttles: The future of rural mobility
While infrastructure in metropolitan areas is dense, rural areas are struggling with depopulation and declining profitability. This is where autonomous shuttles integrated into public transport come into play: small, electric vehicles that operate on demand and intelligently supplement existing route networks or even replace them if necessary. They run when there is demand, rather than according to a rigid timetable.
Pilot projects in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland are already showing that autonomous shuttles can fill gaps, increase frequency, and enable the mobility transition even where traditional buses are uneconomical. In combination with AI-supported dispatching systems, hybrid transport networks are emerging that seamlessly integrate scheduled and on-demand services. The technology is available. Now it's a matter of regulation and the courage to apply something new. Acceptance among the population is already high and will continue to rise. The question remains: How can intelligent integration into existing public transport structures be achieved? This topic will be discussed in depth at BUS2BUS 2026.
Driver shortage as a driver of autonomous solutions
The driver shortage is dramatically exacerbating the situation: Germany already has a shortage of over 80,000 bus drivers – and the trend is rising. Autonomous shuttles are therefore not just a technological vision, but a practical necessity. They relieve the burden on existing staff, enable longer operating hours, and create mobility options where traditional public transport can no longer be operated economically due to staff shortages.
The key point here is that autonomous shuttles integrated into public transport are a complementary service to private robo-taxis. While robo-taxis cover individual, point-to-point transport, publicly operated autonomous shuttles offer a socially equitable, comprehensive basic service that is integrated into existing fare and transport associations. They are the public response to private-sector mobility solutions.
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Michel Schwartz (bus driver & influencer) represents the people who make public transport possible every day – despite a growing shortage of drivers. At the BUS2BUS Bus Driver Day on April 16, he will share his practical perspective.
AI in bus tourism – new booking experiences through multi-agent systems
AI is also revolutionizing the customer journey in the coach and tourism sector. With the help of multi-agent systems, complex trips can be planned, booked, and dynamically adjusted in real time. Is the customer looking for a city break with coach travel, hotel, and cultural program? In the background, AI agents negotiate between transport companies, hotel providers, and tour operators and deliver personalized offers within seconds.
What makes this special: These systems are continuously learning. They recognize preferences, optimize routes based on real-time data (traffic, weather, events), and dynamically adjust prices to demand and capacity. For bus operators, this means higher capacity utilization, better margins, and more satisfied customers.
At the same time, AI-supported platforms open up new opportunities for spontaneous bookings, last-minute offers, and flexible fare models. All of this represents a paradigm shift from rigid schedules to demand-oriented mobility.
Public transport reimagined: multi-agent systems for better service
But AI can do even more: in traditional public transport, multi-agent systems enable a completely new level of service quality. Passengers not only receive real-time information about delays, but also proactive route suggestions in the event of disruptions and personalized ticket offers. In addition, barrier-free alternative routes are provided that cover the entire range of available mobility options. It is no longer necessary to search through 15 apps at the same time to find out how to reach your destination.
BUS2BUS 2026: Meeting place for the future of bus transport
How these technologies work in practice, which Manufacturers and start-ups are working on them, and what regulatory framework is needed for them will be discussed at BUS2BUS in Berlin from April 15 to 16, 2026.
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The Future Forum 2026 translates mobility trends into applicable concepts – with the bus as the most flexible and sustainable means of transport.
The Future Forum is a conference program that brings together decision-makers from the fields of public transport, tourism, politics, and the tech industry. The deep dive sessions go into greater detail, presenting technology showcases, best practices, and specific use cases. The Partner Stage presents international perspectives and innovative approaches from across Europe.
A special highlight is the Young Mobility Network, which connects the next generation of mobility makers: start-ups, students, and players who are shaping the transformation of the industry and the bus transport of tomorrow.
BUS2BUS is more than just a trade fair. It is the place where the future is negotiated.