It depends on what goes wrong. If the failure is within the design spec (eg Engine 2 just flamed out) then it could speed through the checklists faster than hum

It depends on what goes wrong. If the failure is within the design spec (eg Engine 2 just flamed out) then it could speed through the checklists faster than humans. That kind of system may have prevented the loss of Air France 447. I think an AI system would have resulted in a higher loss of life on United 232, when the four humans in the flight deck managed to figure out how to crash the plane on a runway (where a MASSIVE fire/rescue response was waiting) instead of just flopping over into the nearest cornfield. Related, here's my favorite radio call of all time, recorded when Captain Haynes was flinging the out-of-control United 232 in the direction of the airport, knowing that even if he made it to a runway he didn't have any way to stop. "Sioux City Approach: United Two Thirty-Two Heavy, the wind's currently three six zero at one one; three sixty at eleven. You're cleared to land on any runway." "Haynes: [laughter] Roger. [laughter] You want to be particular and make it a runway, huh?"