For the last two years, the conversation surrounding SayIntentions.AI has mostly revolved around three poles: the speed of its LLM tech, the immersion it provides, and the friction of its monthly subscription cost. However, the developer’s first “Vectors to Final” update of 2026 points to an evolution that goes beyond just better Air Traffic Control. By introducing group flight management and a planned free access tier, SayIntentions is reinforcing its intent to become the underlying infrastructure for the “living world” of flight simulation, rather than just a utility add-on. Massive ambitions, let’s check them out!
A “Unified Universe”
During the livestream, founder Brian Shellabarger detailed a long-term vision that fundamentally changes how the software interacts with the simulator. The goal for 2026 is the creation of a “Unified Universe.”
Currently, AI traffic and ATC logic are often segmented. The developer’s new roadmap aims to unify Skynet (their multiplayer network), traffic injection, and ATC into a single synchronized environment. In theory, this means a single AI “brain” would sequence every aircraft globally, whether flown by a human or injected as AI.
This ambition places SayIntentions.AI in a unique position. While competitors like BeyondATC focus on a polished and local experience with a one-time purchase model, SayIntentions is doubling down on server-side processing to create a persistent online world. This distinction is crucial for simmers deciding between the two market leaders. One offers a contained and cost-effective experience. The other is attempting to build a parallel VATSIM populated by AI.
Lowering the barrier: free tier is incoming
Perhaps the most significant news for the broader community is the confirmation of an upcoming free tier. For a product that has maintained a strict paywall since its inception (currently $19/mo), this represents a major shift.
Brian confirmed that this tier, tentatively called “SayIntentions Community,” is expected to launch within weeks or a few months. It will not include the flagship voice ATC features which remain cost-prohibitive due to server fees. However, it will likely include the new “Groupie” flight manager (more details below), commercial route boards, and mission generation tools.
By allowing pilots to enter the ecosystem without a credit card, the developer can integrate its tools into a pilot’s daily workflow. This makes the eventual jump to a paid ATC subscription less of a leap and more of a natural progression.
“Groupie” and frictionless multiplayer
The update also introduced “Groupie,” a new feature currently in alpha for partners. This tool addresses a long-standing headache in the community, which is the logistics of organizing group flights.
Traditionally, flying with friends involves a mess of Discord messages to coordinate servers, start times, gates, and aircraft. The developer says Groupie automates this. One pilot sets the parameters, and others simply join. The software handles the data syncing by creating a private group where pilots can see and hear each other via a dedicated frequency separate from the global traffic.
While partners and content creators have access to the alpha build immediately via the Pilot Portal, the developer estimates the feature will be in the hands of the general public within the next four to five weeks.
How to get Early Access now? The partner program is currently open to the public. If you sign up for SayIntentions.AI, you can log into the Pilot Portal and click the “Become a Partner” button. This unlocks the alpha build immediately, letting you test features like Groupie before the official rollout.
Surpassing human networks
During the stream and as a flashback to the achievements reached in 2025, the developer stated that as of August 2025, SayIntentions is providing ATC services to more concurrent pilots than “all human networks combined” (referencing VATSIM, IVAO, and PilotEdge).
The truth is not every simmer has the time or confidence to speak to human controllers. If accurate, these numbers validate the subscription model’s viability despite vocal community preference for one-time purchases.
Additionally, the developer noted a notable platform shift. Approximately 80% of their Microsoft Flight Simulator user base is now on MSFS 2024, with only 20% remaining on the 2020 version. In contrast, they reported that X-Plane’s market share within their ecosystem is “eroding,” consistent with data they claim to have corroborated with other add-on developers.
The next gen: emotional AI
Looking further ahead, Brian also previewed “Gen 3” voices. The demo showcased controllers capable of displaying emotion. They sounded “terse” when busy or “amused” when having a good day. While the developer cautioned that this tech isn’t ready for public deployment due to cost and stability issues, it addresses the “robotic” inflection that remains the primary immersion breaker for current AI ATC solutions.
And with that, SayIntentions.AI celebrates a fruitful 2025 and sets strong ambitions for the new year. The full video is well worth a watch if you’re in the SayIntentions ecosystem or looking to jump in, but here is a summary of the key updates shared by the developer:
New Features & Tools
- Groupie (Alpha): A group flight management tool that syncs flight plans, time, and weather for multiplayer groups. Includes private voice channels and auto-tuning frequencies. Available to the public in roughly 4-5 weeks.
- Free Tier (Upcoming): A non-ATC subscription tier granting access to mission boards, route planning, and potentially Groupie.
- Gen 3 Voices (In Development): A new voice engine capable of emotional context, variable speaking rates, and mood-based responses.
Statistics & Growth
- User Base: The developer claims to have tripled their user base in 2025.
- Usage: Reported higher concurrent user counts than human-staffed networks since August 2025.
- Platform Split: MSFS users are split 80/20 in favor of MSFS 2024.
2026 Roadmap Targets
- Unified Universe: Merging all traffic, multiplayer, and ATC into a single global sequence.
- Accuracy: Targeting 99.999% instruction accuracy (up from a claimed 99.1%).
- Strict Enforcement: Expanding “strict mode” where ATC corrects pilot mistakes and enforces readbacks more rigorously.
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