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The industry I chose to evaluate the role of AI in is the transportation industry. I chose this industry because I previously didn't know much about it, and was eager to learn more. I'm interested in learning about the role of AI in transportation because I enjoy traveling, and use many forms of transportation such as cars, trains, planes, ferries, and busses. This Padlet Wall will cover the topics of the roles of AI in traffic regulation, transportation safety, and self-driving abilities.

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Traffic regulation is commonly known by means of traffic lights and road signs. Traffic lights let drivers know when they are safely able to proceed on the road. However, they often times run on a timer, which means that it could present a red light whilst there is no reason why a car can't drive through. Bringing AI algorithms into this sector can allow for more efficient traffic light intersections that are tuned to the environment they are in. This has started in Seattle, where the transportation department has partnered with Google to use AI in programming signal timing at intersections (Tedino). A challenge includes funding the AI implementation to be widespread. I think this is a great way to use AI in society, as I often find myself waiting at red lights when there is technically no other reason why it's unsafe to proceed.

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Google tests new AI technology in Seattle to improve traffic flow

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Recently, vehicles have become increasingly capable of driving themselves without needing a driver. This is due to AI technologies and algorithms. Benefits to self-driving mechanisms include more efficient roadways, eliminating human error that comes along with driving, and creating safer means of transportation more accessible. A challenge faced by self-driving mechanisms is that people are hesitant to trust a computer software with such a precise and important task (Myers). While I am personally afraid of being in a vehicle without a human driver, I feel that AI self-driving can increase safety tremendously. Not everyone chooses to drive safely/sober/alert, so computer automation in these cases would be an improvement.

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Are driverless cars ready to hit the road full time?

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Air travel consists of many components, including the aircraft that is flying and air traffic control that monitors the schedule and trip of the aircrafts. By using AI descriptive and prescriptive analytics, airlines are better able to predict delays, create more accurate schedules, and aid in airport security practices (Adebayo). Furthermore, AI could be helpful in outlining the most efficient flight paths available based on weather and winds. A challenge in bring AI into air travel includes computer error; one small coding bug could have an international effect on commercial air travel. This is a big concern for me, as my flight this summer was canceled due to a nationwide software malfunction, and flights were delayed for days to come.

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The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Aviation Industry: Applications and Challenges

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Future Trends and Ethical Considerations

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Future Trends and Ethical Considerations

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Future trends demonstrate that AI is going to expand into the transportation industry. Both future and current development of smart navigation systems are taking advantage of AI algorithms. AI is forecasted to be used to monitor the strengths and weaknesses of transportation systems (travel times, traffic, safety, etc.), and allow engineers to develop strategies to mend these issues. AI learns based off data consumption, so as we advance into the future with more data for the AI to analyze, the more expansive and robust the system can function (Pennetti and Porter). Ethical considerations of AI in the transportation industry include the fact that computers can potentially malfunction, software code can be hacked, and many human jobs/roles could potentially be replaced by AI. While I value the safety and reliability that AI involvement in the transportation industry can provide, I would also feel safer knowing that there is human knowledge/control behind the developments AI is responsible for.

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My research process for this Padlet assignment consisted of finding reliable sources that describe and inform on the integration of AI into the transportation industry. I learned a lot about AI in transportation, such as it's role in air traffic control, traffic regulation, and self-driving capabilities. A challenge I faced during this research process was finding articles from reliable sources that catered to my chosen themes. To overcome this, I changed key words in my search, and this helped to solve the problem. My thoughts about the impact of AI on the transportation industry are scattered. While I feel that AI integration has a lot of potential to increase safety and efficiency in everyday transportation/travel mechanisms, I also recognize that technology fails. Placing such important roles solely into the hands of AI software seems to drastic to me, and I feel that the integration must be gradual with proper precautions and human control as well. Doing this research however, did make me more willing to accept and appreciate the potential AI has for the transportation industry, and I feel significantly more educated on the matter.

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Integrating AI into the transportation has many societal impacts. To start, adding AI to transportation systems would allow for more efficient and programmed travel. This would allow people to travel both quicker and more expansively, which has implications to consider; people being able to travel far distances so promptly can be beneficial (rapid deliveries, emergency responses, etc.) and dangerous (easier for people to disappear when they don't want to be found) simultaneously. As for employment, integrating AI could be detrimental for many individuals' job security. For example, AI could quickly replace workers in air traffic control, traffic regulation, highway patrol (AI monitoring roads), and taxi drivers (self-driving AI mechanisms) (Walch). I feel that it's ok to integrate AI into the transportation industry, but it's important to consider the effects on safety and job security. If done properly, AI could both enhance the safety and efficiency of the transportation industry, whilst stimulating it's job growth.

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Adebayo, K. S. (2024, December 28). 5 Ways AI Is Keeping The Booming Air Travel Industry On Track. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/kolawolesamueladebayo/2024/12/28/5-ways-ai-is-keeping-the-booming-air-travel-industry-on-track/

[Rationale: This article provides insight on the impacts AI has on the air travel industry, which is important for airlines' operations and developments.]

Myers, A. (2022, March 7). How AI Is Making Autonomous Vehicles Safer. Stanford HAI. https://hai.stanford.edu/news/how-ai-making-autonomous-vehicles-safer

[Rationale: This article provides insight into how AI is being integrated into self-driving vehicles, which is important in increasing daily transportation safety and reliability.]

Pennetti, C., & Porter, M. (2025). How artificial intelligence can speed up transportation engineering. Asce.org. https://www.asce.org/publications-and-news/civil-engineering-source/civil-engineering-magazine/issues/magazine-issue/article/2024/11/how-artificial-intelligence-can-speed-up-transportation-engineering

[Rationale: This article provides insight as to how AI development is going to affect the future of the transportation industry, which is important for studying where AI development is headed.]

Tedino, J. (2024, March 14). Green Means Go: Seattle’s AI Solution to Reduce Stoplight Idling. American Planning Association. https://www.planning.org/planning/2024/mar/green-means-go-seattles-ai-solution-to-reduce-stoplight-idling/

[Rationale: This article provides insight as to how Seattle is using AI in their traffic light systems, which is important for creating more situationally designed intersections to minimize idling.]

Walch, K. (2024, November 24). How AI Is Driving The Future Of Transportation. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathleenwalch/2024/11/23/how-ai-is-driving-the-future-of-transportation/

[Rationale: This article provides insight as to how AI is going to integrate into the transportation industry in the near future, which is important for learning about potential/future developments.]