Automated News Delivery at Frankfurt Airport: A Use Case with plain X
From 2022 to June 2025, Deutsche Welle (DW) provided curated news content to 190 screens throughout Frankfurt Airport, keeping travelers informed with the latest headlines. This project was made possible through a close partnership between Priberam (Lisbon, Portugal) and DW, leveraging the capabilities of the plain X human language technology platform.
How It Worked
- Content Curation: DW editors prepared and quality-checked news scripts.
- Automation Pipeline: These scripts were uploaded to plain X, which then:
- Synced scripts with incoming news videos
- Generated subtitles automatically
- Packaged finished clips for delivery
- Distribution: The subtitled news videos were sent directly to the airport’s server network, ensuring timely updates for travelers.
All steps after script upload—including subtitling and file management—were fully automated. This workflow minimized manual intervention while maintaining high quality, thanks to the “script-checker in the loop” approach in this use case. It is an example how AI-supported language solutions combined with human oversight can enable high productivity and output over years.
Project Timeline
- Start: 2022
- End: June 2025 (screens will now be used for advertising)
Collaboration
This use case was based on a long-standing cooperation between DW and Priberam, combining editorial expertise with advanced language technology.
Further Reading
For more technical details, see the DW Innovation blogpost.
