Google wants to use artificial intelligence to time traffic lights more efficiently

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By Paresh Dave

Oct 6 (Reuters) – Alphabet Inc’s Google GOOGL.O reduced fuel consumption and traffic delays by 10% to 20% in four locations in Israel by using AI to optimize signal lights and plans to test the software in Rio de Janeiro, the company said Wednesday.

The early stage research project is among the new software initiatives within Google to combat climate change. Some employees and advocacy groups have called on the company, the third most valuable in the world, to use its influence more urgently to fight the crisis.

Although Google has not responded to requests from critics to stop selling technology to oil companies or to fund lawmakers who deny global warming, it has prioritized sustainability features.

Google plans in the coming weeks to allow its Nest thermostat users to purchase renewable energy credits for $ 10 per month to offset heating and cooling emissions. Credits will come from projects in Texas including Bethel Wind Farm and Roseland Solar. Most of the funds will go to credit purchases and bill payment costs, Google said, without processing the rest.

For free in the US, Nest users will soon be able to automatically shift heating and cooling to times when energy is cleaner.

New information panels alongside the search results show emissions or other environmental assessments of global flights and cars and appliances in the United States. To stem disinformation, questions in English, Spanish and French that mention “climate change” starting this month will contain explanations from the United Nations.

Based on initial findings in Haifa and Beer-Sheva in Israel, the Rio de Janeiro Municipal Traffic Authority expressed high hopes that AI could improve road sign changes. He told Reuters the system is expected to be rolled out within months with locations announced shortly.

Aleksandar Stevanovic, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Pittsburgh, said the simulations show that artificial intelligence could facilitate the flow of traffic. But he wondered if a tech company with no traffic engineering expertise could ultimately bring such software to reality.

“Every year there is someone new who says we can work miracles,” he said.

(Reporting by Paresh Dave; Additional reporting by Pedro Fonseca in Rio de Janeiro; Editing by Stephen Coates)

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