The autopilot does not steer the airplane on the ground or taxi the plane at the gate. Generally, the pilot will handle takeoff and then initiate the autopilot to take over for most of the flight.

As of 2026, planes do not taxi on a full autopilot system in the way they fly on one, but "Autonomous Taxi" technology is currently in advanced testing. Standard commercial flights still require pilots to manually steer the aircraft on the ground using a "tiller" or rudder pedals, as airport taxiways are complex environments with ground vehicles, other planes, and varying instructions from Air Traffic Control. However, systems like Airbus's "Dragonfly" and "Optimate" are being trialed in 2026 to provide "pilot assistance," using cameras and sensors to automatically detect obstacles and keep the plane centered on the yellow line. There are also specialized electric tug systems that can tow an aircraft to the runway autonomously to save fuel. While we are approaching a future where a plane might "taxi-by-wire" using AI for navigation, the final responsibility and physical control for steering an 80-ton jet around a crowded gate area remains firmly in the hands of the human flight crew.