An outlandish concept for a nuclear-powered floating hotel has been unveiled, designed to fly with 20 electric engines and an AI pilot in a nearly non-stop flight.
As reported by The Independent, Hashem Al-Ghaili posted a YouTube video showing conceptual plans for the Sky Cruise vessel, dubbed the "hotel of the future," with room for 5,000 guests. Its design combines "features of a commercial plane while offering the epitome of luxury" for passengers who would arrive at the hotel via airliner or private jet.
Sky Cruise is a concept for a nuclear-powered sky hotel. This video rendering shows the aircraft designed to fly with 20 electric engines, housing over 5,000 guests in nearly nonstop flight [full video, Hashem Al-Ghaili: https://t.co/XN2SFT6PMt] pic.twitter.com/8RrxxtfxYc
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) June 26, 2022
The narrator claims Sky Cruise would have no carbon footprint, as it would boast 20 electric engines powered solely by "clean, nuclear energy." This theoretically means that the hotel would never run out of fuel and could stay airborne for several years without ever needing to touch the ground, with maintenance and repairs also carried out above the clouds.
The concept for the cruiser, originally designed by Tony Holmsten and reimagined in the animations by Al-Ghaili, includes a command deck that would use AI to predict air turbulence so that it can "glide over the vibrations with ease," as well as a medical facility equipped with technology to keep passengers safe, healthy, and fit during their journey.
The flying hotel would have plenty of recreational activities to keep guests occupied while they're onboard, too. The video render unveils an entertainment deck filled with shopping malls, sports centers, swimming pools, restaurants, bars, playgrounds for children, cinemas, and theaters. There's also a separate section for events and business meetings.
Outside of the main hub of activity, there is a panoramic hall inside an observation tower that offers 360-degree views of the sky above the clouds, plus three individual viewing domes for stargazing. The Sky Cruise would feature exterior elevators to shuttle guests from one location to another, provided people would be on board for the idea.
While it's a fun idea, many spectators called out the concept design after identifying some of its potential flaws, with one person commenting on YouTube: "If physics and aerodynamics didn't exist, then this vessel might actually be able to take off," while another added: "The designers forgot this thing is supposed to fly… Ergo, they need to adhere to the principles of aerodynamics."
Some people were concerned about the size of the cruiser, as one YouTube user pointed out how big the runway would need to be for such a "monster-sized" aircraft, and another added: "That thing is massive, it's at least 20 times larger than any commercial airplane. I can't even imagine the amount of maintenance something this massive would need." That's to say nothing of the potential danger of a nuclear-powered aircraft, well, crashing.
The use of AI also raises ethical questions, though it admittedly hasn't stopped people from experimenting. One person recently found themselves in a bizarre situation after they turned their imaginary friend into an AI microwave that attempted to kill them. That cautionary tale was followed by reports of a Google engineer claiming an AI chatbot had become sentient.
Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.
Thumbnail image credit: Hashem Al-Ghaili/Tony Holmsten.