I dont really know much of anything about aviation, other than being a passenger, but I feel like taking off and landing is still something that needs a pilot. I've been on some rough landings, and I don't think ML is quite there yet to do it.

You don't need ML to do this, there are already auto landing (and auto take off) systems that work very well. The hardest part is taxiing on the airport and taking part in air control procedures doesn't work at all AFAIK.

And for taxiing hard part is likely not moving the plane, but not getting in a way of anyone else. You really don't want to be at wrong part of runway at wrong time.

Ground movements and runway clearances are still very manual processes unfortunately, and mistakes happen especially in high task-load situations or poor visibility or flight number collisions etc. The safe part about being in the airplane is actually being in the air, lol - once you push back you are at fairly elevated statistical risk until you’ve got some altitude. Takeoff/landing are high risk and there’s a lot of people and a lot of chances for mistakes on the tarmac.

There are statistically an enormous number of ground movements carried out safely but boy does the potential body count get big with runway incursion scenarios. Two 757s colliding is a lot of people, and in high-energy scenarios at least one of the aircraft isn’t walking away. You can be doing nothing wrong and someone just landings on your taxiway etc. The close calls are terrifying.