Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is requesting additional funding from Congress to modernize the nation's air traffic control system using artificial intelligence technology, following a recent close call between two Southwest Airlines jets in Nashville.

In an interview with CBS News, Duffy outlined his plans to incorporate AI into air traffic management while firmly rejecting the possibility of replacing human controllers with automated systems. "Am I gonna replace a controller and have AI manage the airspace? The answer to that is hell no, that's not gonna happen," Duffy stated.

The Transportation Secretary emphasized that artificial intelligence would serve as a supplementary tool rather than a replacement for human oversight. "AI is a tool, but we do not replace humans," Duffy explained during his discussion with CBS News correspondent Kris Van Cleave.

The modernization initiative comes as aviation safety remains a priority for the Department of Transportation. The recent incident in Nashville, where two Southwest jets experienced a close call, has highlighted the ongoing need for enhanced safety measures and updated technology in air traffic management systems.

Duffy's proposal would integrate AI capabilities into existing air traffic control infrastructure while maintaining human controllers as the primary decision-makers. The specific funding amount requested from Congress was not disclosed in the available statements.

The Transportation Secretary also addressed other aviation industry concerns during the interview, including Spirit Airlines' request for government financial assistance.