Being stuck in traffic is a familiar problem for many Californians, but state officials are hoping to harness the power of artificial intelligence to find new solutions.
The California Department of Transportation, in conjunction with other state agencies, is asking technology companies to submit proposals by January 25th. Generative AI tools It could help reduce traffic in California and make roads safer, especially for pedestrians, bicycles and scooter riders. Generative AI tools like ChatGPT can quickly generate text, images, and other content, but the technology can also help employees brainstorm ideas.
The request shows how California is leveraging AI to improve government services as lawmakers seek to protect against the technology's potential risks. As Microsoft-backed OpenAI, Google and other tech giants roll out new AI-powered tools, the technology's rapid advances are raising concerns about misinformation, job losses, piracy and privacy. There is.
The state's plan to potentially use artificial intelligence to ease traffic congestion stems from an executive order on generative AI signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in September. As part of the order, the state also released a report outlining the benefits and risks of using AI in state government.
California government agencies have access to valuable data from thousands of traffic sensors and cameras. Analyzing that data to quickly reduce traffic and improve safety can be difficult. A huge amount of data exists in various forms such as photos, videos, and text.
The state is now leveraging technology to analyze traffic data, but relies heavily on officials to decide what to do to improve traffic flow in real time. Generative AI might come up with a better solution.
“We're probably going to change our strategy much faster than any human being could,” said Amy Tong, California's secretary of government operations.
There are various reasons why traffic jams occur. These include crashes, road debris, large events with large crowds, and bad weather. But California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin said there are also recurring problems that could make the roads even more congested.
For example, narrow sections of road can impede traffic flow. Employees can use generative AI to brainstorm different solutions.
“Generative AI can actually help funnel traffic better into these areas, instead of automatically thinking, 'Oh, let's widen the roads.' That's the solution,” he said. Said.
Caltrans also wants to leverage generative AI to help achieve its vision of zero traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2050. Through analysis of accident scenes, lighting conditions, traffic patterns, and the behavior of “vulnerable road users” such as pedestrians and bicyclists, Caltrans said. AI can help workers identify areas with a high risk of accidents and suggest safety measures.
“This proactive approach enables transportation system operators and engineers to proactively anticipate safety issues and address them more quickly, rather than simply reacting to safety issues after the fact. .” document It outlines the problems Caltrans is trying to solve for the state.
Omishakin said he expects jobs will change, but not be completely replaced, as technology becomes more integrated into state government jobs.
Companies are already using AI to analyze traffic patterns and the movement of people on the road, including drivers and cyclists. For example, Google has research initiatives such as: project greenlight The plan, which includes cities such as Seattle, aims to improve traffic flow and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars on the road. As part of the project, Google will use AI to identify when engineers can adjust the timing of traffic lights and provide recommendations to city officials.
InrixTransportation analytics company announced in November a new AI-powered generative product that will help cities better manage traffic flow. According to the company's report, Los Angeles was the sixth most congested city in the United States in 2022, with delays costing drivers 95 hours and $1,601 in lost traffic.
Technology isn't perfect, Tong said, and human intervention is needed to ensure AI systems use data from the right sources and don't throw up errors. The state is also taking steps to limit potential data security and privacy issues. State data used by vendors in AI systems would have to be stored in a “managed cloud environment” at the California Institute of Technology, according to state proposal documents.
The state's request for innovative ideas involves various steps, including the state evaluating solutions proposed by companies. California, which is facing a record $68 billion budget deficit, could then strike a deal with the companies. Tong said other state agencies will also ask businesses to submit ideas to help improve other state services, such as call centers that assist taxpayers.
“We're definitely keeping budget constraints in mind, but at the same time public safety is a top priority for this administration,” Tong said. “That's why we continue to explore these options.”
