Can AI Cut Traffic Emissions And Reduce City Pollution?
Boston hopes to devise a plan to cut automotive emissions by using AI to change traffic patterns. If it works, it should lower greenhouse gases produced by vehicles that enter and use the city. However, it is too early to say if it will work.
According to Axios, the city has an arrangement with Project Green Light, which is Google’s AI traffic analysis initiative. “The team studies traffic patterns and makes recommendations for optimizing the traffic light plans in hopes of reducing delays and emissions,” based on a description on its website. Paris established itself as a low emission zone during the Olympics.
Software And Traffic
The analysis from the software has identified places where traffic patterns have high congestion or idle vehicles, so in theory, it should work as a means to make driving more energy efficient. Many companies have already done this.
The challenge may be that the devil is in the details, much as it is in self driving. Collecting enough data to run through the AI to make estimates and suggestions adequate to act on is a barrier.
AI Could Be A Friend Or Foe
AI and the environment are uneasy, which may also affect cities. As AI data centers draw electricity, they will compete with cities for energy from the electric grid. Electricity costs for legacy business and residential users could soar. AI could become an enemy as much as a friend.
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