Since artificial intelligence (AI) has been introduced, it has intrigued me. This is why I continuously try to learn more about the possibilities of AI. In the first week of my Information Strategy course, we discussed in class the disruption of the public transport tickers, which was a shift from paper tickets to smart tickets, also known as OV chipcards. This discussion reminded me of my experience in China, where cameras were everywhere. In China, AI could recognise faces and be used for payments. This made me think: why can’t we implement AI in public transport globally?
Implementing facial recognition in public transport and train stations can improve the way we travel and the experience of traveling. Firstly, facial recognition can eliminate the need for gates. This is because faces can be used to pay for tickets, which allows an immediate deduction from our bank account. This will not only make the transaction go more smoothly but also stop people from trying to avoid paying fares(Shen et al., 2020). Besides the economic benefits, it can also make people feel more safe. This is because criminal intent can be immediately identified and easily found by police(Ruiz & Sawant, 2019).
The implementation of this AI does not come without challenges. There is a concern that needs to be addressed in terms of privacy, data security, and technology accuracy(Zeng, 2019). While there will be a lot of benefits to implementing AI in public transport, we should not forget about the challenges this technology brings with it.
In conclusion, there could be a lot of potential for AI in the public transportation industry. From smooth transactions to enhanced safety, the benefits are numerous. However, we should not forget about the challenges that AI brings. We should first address privacy and data security concerns; they are essential for the successful global implementation of this technology. The goal of implementing this technology is to create a more efficient and safer public transport system for all.
Sources:
Ruiz, D. R., & Sawant, A. (2019). Quantitative Analysis Of Crime Incidents In Chicago Using Data Analytics Techniques. Computers, Materials & Continua, 59(2), 389–396. https://doi.org/10.32604/cmc.2019.06433
Shen, J., Duan, H., Zhang, B., Wang, J., Ji, J. S., Wang, J., Pan, L., Wang, X., Zhao, K., Ying, B., Tang, S., Zhang, J., Liang, C., Sun, H., Lv, Y., Li, Y., Li, T., Li, L., Hang, L., . . . Shi, X. (2020). Prevention and control of COVID-19 in public transportation: Experience from China. Environmental Pollution, 266, 115291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115291
Zeng, Y. (2019, September 19). Responsible facial recognition and beyond. arXiv.org. https://arxiv.org/abs/1909.12935
Indeed, facial recognition is poised to become a future trend in public transportation. Beyond efficiency and safety, sustainability is another valuable benefit for the transport industry. Rather than printing numerous paper tickets, this technology offers a more environmentally-friendly alternative. However, the implementation is not without its challenges. The most complex aspect of facial recognition is not the recognition itself, but the integration of this data with other stakeholders. Take air travel as an example: achieving seamless data exchange between airlines, airports, and customs would require an expensive and complicated Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) system.
The transformational potential of AI and facial recognition in public transport is examined in-depth and with interest in your blog post. I like how you seamlessly combined your academic background and experiences with your personal interest in artificial intelligence (AI) to present a strong argument in favor of the widespread use of this technology. Considering the challenges you mentioned I also think that a thoughtful and responsible approach is key to the implementation of this idea. More specifically, I think that gaining public trust is the most important factor that determines whether this idea will be successful or not.
I also had a positive experience with AI and facial recognition when I visited China this summer. Using AI makes everything much more efficient and gives social control, especially when there are so many citizens. From my own observations, the citizens in China do not seem to oppose the use of AI and facial recognition as it has become a common practice. Your post reminded me of a news article I recently read which was about using facial recognition at campsites to access the swimming pool in the Netherlands. The benefit is that customers don’t have to let staff check their card or wristband. What was surprising, was that one campsite had 300 customers and only 3 of them used facial recognition. Most people were worried about their privacy and that it will become the new norm if more campsites are going to use this method. Perhaps it will take a few years (or maybe even more) for people to accept it, or perhaps it will never become common practice.
It’s interesting to hear this perspective. This new technology seems to carry a somewhat negative connotation regarding privacy, and these concerns are being increasingly highlighted in today’s digital age. However, it’s genuinely intriguing to contemplate the advantages that the system has to offer. It effectively addresses issues such as fare evasion and tracking criminals. On the flip side, when it comes to data privacy, it feels concerning that everyone is subject to constant tracking. Do you believe that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks in this case?
By Jesse Osinga, student number 642011
I agree with many points made in this blog, and I could really see the potentials of AI facial recognition in public transportation systems. Using facial recognition as a sort of “ticketing system” is a very interesting idea. I could make transactions seamless and improve security.
However, data privacy and security are major concerns that need to be addressed before implementing these technologies. It is crucial to find a good balance between convenience and protecting personal information of individuals. Additionally, ensuring the technology’s ability to process this data in a secure way, and preventing misuse are essential steps. In the end, it should all be about creating a safer and more efficient system when we talk about public transportation.