GOOGLE WANTS TO USE AI FOR TRAFFIC LIGHT EFFICIENCY

Alphabet Inc’s Google cut fuel use and traffic delays by 10 per cent to 20 per cent at four locations in Israel by using artificial intelligence to optimize signal lights and it next plans to test the software in Rio de Janeiro, the company said Wednesday. The early-phase research project is among new software initiatives inside Google to combat climate change. Rio de Janeiro’s municipal traffic authority expressed high hopes for the AI to better time traffic signal changes. It told Reuters the system should be introduced within months. Aleksandar Stevanovic, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at University of Pittsburgh, said simulations show AI could smooth traffic flow, questioned whether a company without traffic engineering expertise ultimately could bring such software to reality.