Artificial intelligence (AI) has been applied in elevator systems for more than three decades—long before the modern surge in AI applications across other engineering sectors. Early implementations were narrow in scope and structurally constrained by the mechanical and safety-critical nature of elevator systems.

This paper presents a substantially expanded and academically aligned review of historical and contemporary AI applications in vertical transportation. Drawing on established research and the author’s experience with Japanese elevator systems, the paper clarifies the technical boundaries of AI feasibility and distinguishes deterministic safety authority from AI-assisted supervisory functions. A forward-looking analysis identifies realistic future applications in diagnostics, monitoring, optimisation, and commissioning. The paper aims to contribute to a more rigorous engineering understanding of AI’s proper role within vertical transportation.