As the gateway to Silicon Valley, San José Mineta International Airport (SJC) is bringing cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) directly into the passenger journey. The airport has debuted an interactive AI-powered humanoid robot – named ‘José’ – from local startup IntBot.

Designed to greet travellers, answer questions and provide real-time information in 50+ languages, José will be stationed at Terminal B, Gate 24 (near Zoom Zone), to help turn one of the region’s busiest public spaces into a live testing ground for emerging technology.

The platform represents a new generation of physical AI agents driven by real-world perception, contextual reasoning and natural interaction, enabling seamless operation in complex public environments.

“San José sits at the centre of global innovation, and our airport is a natural place to introduce technologies that are shaping the future,” said Mookie Patel, Director of Aviation, San José Mineta International Airport. “By piloting IntBot, we’re exploring how artificial intelligence can enhance the passenger journey while reinforcing SJC’s role as the gateway to Silicon Valley.”

The deployment aligns with the City of San José’s broader commitment to responsible innovation and the use of technology to improve public services. SJC frequently partners with technology companies to pilot new tools that enhance the passenger experience. The four-month IntBot pilot is part of SJC’s ongoing efforts to explore technologies that improve customer service, accessibility and operational efficiency.

“At IntBot, we are defining the category of social intelligence for physical AI, building the foundational layer that enables robots to understand human intent, context, and behaviour in real-world environments,” said Lei Yang, CEO, IntBot. “This deployment at San José Mineta International Airport marks an important milestone in bringing socially intelligent robots into one of the busiest public hubs, demonstrating how these systems can operate reliably at scale. We are just beginning to unlock what this technology will enable across industries.”