CroAI Meetup x AI2F: Are self-flying planes the next big thing?
- Date
- 2025-10-28
- Location
- Sedmi odjel HQs, Zagreb, Grad Zagreb, Croatia
- Host
- CroAI Events
About this event
Self-flying planes sound like science fiction until you look at how quickly autonomy is moving from research labs into real-world systems. This meetup brings that question into the room in a practical, grounded way: what would it actually take for aircraft to fly themselves, where is the technology today, and what should builders, researchers, and curious operators be paying attention to right now? CroAI Meetup x AI2F gathers the local AI and tech community in Zagreb for an evening that is equal parts discussion, learning, and connection. If you want a smarter conversation than hype headlines and a better understanding of what autonomy in aviation could mean in practice, this is the kind of room you will want to be in. About the Event This is an in-person community meetup hosted by CroAI Meetup together with AI2F at Sedmi odjel HQs in Zagreb. The focus is a timely and provocative theme: are self-flying planes the next big thing, or are we still much earlier in the journey than the buzz suggests? Expect a format that is built for both insight and interaction. Rather than treating the topic as a distant future concept, the event creates space to explore it from multiple angles: AI capability, safety, regulation, system design, real-world constraints, and the gap between a demo and a deployable product. Because this is a meetup, the value is not only in the topic itself but in the mix of people it attracts. You can expect conversations with builders, researchers, founders, engineers, and tech-curious attendees who care about where AI is headed and how it intersects with high-stakes industries. Whether you come with deep domain knowledge or just a strong curiosity about autonomy, the event is designed to make the subject approachable without oversimplifying it. You should leave with a sharper sense of the questions that matter most. What to Expect The evening starts with the simple but important advantage of any strong local meetup: people in the room who actually want to talk. Before and after the main program, there will be time to meet others, compare perspectives, and start conversations that can continue well beyond the event itself. The core of the meetup will center on the theme of self-flying planes and what sits behind that idea. Expect discussion around questions like: What “self-flying” really means in technical terms How AI, autonomy, and decision-making systems fit into aviation Where current capabilities are strong, and where they are still limited Why safety, reliability, and trust matter more here than in many other AI applications What adoption might look like in reality, not just in headlines You should also expect a healthy level of nuance. Aviation is one of the clearest examples of a domain where excitement alone is not enough. Any serious conversation about autonomous flight has to account for edge cases, certification, human oversight, failure modes, and the cost of getting things wrong. Just as important, this is a chance to hear how people from different backgrounds think about the same problem. An AI engineer, a startup founder, and a domain specialist may all see different opportunities and different blockers. That contrast tends to make meetups like this especially useful. Why Attend If you work in AI, this event helps you think beyond generic use cases and into systems where performance, safety, and accountability are central. It is a strong opportunity to pressure-test your assumptions about what autonomy can do today versus what still requires major breakthroughs in infrastructure, validation, and deployment. If you are more broadly in tech, this meetup gives you a practical window into how advanced AI discussions change when the stakes are high. Aviation is a compelling case study because it forces better questions: not only “can this be built?” but also “can this be trusted, governed, maintained, and used responsibly?” There is also clear value in the community itself. Meetups like this are where ideas get clarified, collaborations start, and local ecosystems become more connected. You may come for the topic and leave with new contacts, new angles on your own work, or a better sense of where your interests fit in the regional AI landscape. A good event does not just give you information. It gives you language for the next conversation, sharper instincts about what matters, and a room full of people worth knowing. That is the real draw here. Practical Details This is an in-person event taking place at Sedmi odjel HQs, Zagreb, Croatia. Being in the room matters for this format: the informal conversations before and after the main discussion are a meaningful part of the experience, especially for anyone looking to meet others in the local AI and tech community. The meetup takes place on Tuesday, October 28 at 6:00 PM GMT+1. An evening start makes it easy to attend after work and gives the event a relaxed but focused energy that suits discussion and networking well. A few useful things to keep in mind: Come ready for both listening and conversation Bring your questions, especially if you care about autonomy, AI safety, applied ML, or future mobility Expect a community-driven atmosphere rather than a formal conference setup Plan to stay a bit beyond the core program if you want to make the most of the networking side If the idea of autonomous flight has been sitting somewhere between skepticism and fascination for you, this meetup is a strong place to explore it seriously. You do not need to arrive with all the answers. You just need enough curiosity to want better questions.
Who should attend
This is for you if you want a thoughtful, grounded conversation about AI, autonomy, and what real-world adoption looks like when the stakes are high. - You work in **AI, machine learning, data science, or engineering** and want to explore how autonomy changes in safety-critical environments like aviation. - You are a **founder, product builder, or operator** interested in where advanced AI could create real value beyond the usual consumer or enterprise use cases. - You follow **aviation, robotics, mobility, or autonomous systems** and want a community discussion that goes deeper than headlines. - You are part of the **Croatian or regional tech community** and want to meet people who are actively thinking about the future of AI in practical, applied terms. - You enjoy **smart meetups with strong networking potential**, where the side conversations can be just as useful as the main topic. - You are simply **curious and technically interested**, even if aviation is not your field, and you want to better understand how AI gets evaluated when reliability and trust really matter.