Seattle is the testing ground for Google’s Project Green Light to lessen traffic jams. Cities around the country may soon adopt this novel approach to utilizing artificial intelligence to optimize traffic flow. It is one of the biggest problems for mega cities. According to a recent report, Google, a prominent technology corporation, is now implementing its new “Project Green Light” system in Seattle. This system aims to address the issue of congested streets in the city by utilizing Google’s Maps database and artificial intelligence (AI) technology. It optimizes traffic lights and provides suggestions to city engineers for potential modifications.
According to Christopher Alexander, the Chief Analytics Officer of Pioneer Development Group, the current form of AI is well-suited for managing traffic. He explains that this task involves analyzing large volumes of data to identify patterns, which can be effectively done using AI’s machine learning capabilities.
“AI capabilities can replicate dozens of analysts who normally would perform tasks like this and constantly make adjustments as needed,” Alexander stated. “With all AI, a human must vet the work, and as long as trained experts use AI as a form of augmentation, this is an ideal application for the current state of AI capabilities.”
Juliet Rothenberg, a key figure at Google, played a leading role in implementing the program in Seattle. She explained to CBS that even a slight adjustment of a “few seconds” can lead to significant improvements in productivity. According to city officials, the idea has been successful thus far in easing annoying traffic jams in certain areas of the city.
“We had one case where we moved four seconds from a north-south street to an east-west street for a particular time of day, so then that can help reduce some of that stop-and-go traffic,” explained Laura Wojcicki, a transportation engineer employed by Seattle’s Department of Transportation, in an interview.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the field of computer science that focuses on the development of intelligent machines capable of doing tasks that typically require human intelligence. Moreover, Google is offering the service at no cost and has intentions to extend it to several cities.
Phil Siegel, the creator of the “Centre for Advanced Preparedness and Threat Response Simulation,” concurred that employing artificial intelligence (AI) for traffic management is extremely helpful. Still, he acknowledged that the necessary technology “has been around for a long time.”
“What Google is doing is adding new objectives like idling time and its resultant carbon footprint. Traffic management systems are already quite sophisticated. Perhaps the most important aspect of this one is it’s free,” Siegel informed Fox News Digital.
Seattle is the first city in the United States to implement Project Green Light, while the Google initiative is currently undergoing trials at 70 junctions across 13 locations globally. The article states that the program has an impact on 30 million car trips every month, and Google is certain that it can decrease stop-and-go traffic by as much as 30%.”It means a lot for drivers, and it also means a lot for emissions,” Wojcicki stated.
According to The Federalist staff editor Samuel Mangold-Lenett, such applications of AI have become “inevitable,” but he did point out the necessity to keep trying to explain “human behavior.”
“U.S. infrastructure will become integrated with AI, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it will make things easier or better,” Mangold-Lenett stated in an interview with Fox News Digital. “We all know that people tend to be irrational when behind the wheel; there’s a good chance this is just a quixotic attempt at social engineering and micromanagement.”
