What is Artificial Intelligence? Examples
How has Artificial Intelligence curbs criminals? A.I. examples on air transport security’s machine-learning with enhanced A.I. technology systems.
In this article, I will briefly explain what Artificial Intelligence is, and provide some examples of A.I. in the air transportation industry in the broadest scope. There are a variety of research-based articles defining what Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) is and how A.I. works.
Are you traveling by air or by public transportation? Artificial Intelligence systems are starting to improve already-strict public transport including airport security. Let’s discuss further on Artificial Intelligence examples in Airport Security.
Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to intelligence held by software and machines. Though not currently as advanced as human intelligence, artificial intelligence has seen rapid progress in the past two decades.
Its growth has been so astounding that some, including tech billionaires Bill Gates and Elon Musk, have come out against the potential dangers of increasing AI. Musk, for one, envisions a world under siege from a robot takeover — a world in which AI finally surpasses human intelligence.
For now, however, these dystopian visions remain nothing more than the plot of the next famous science fiction novel.
The applications for AI in the real world, however, continue to grow. Most notably, AI has become an integral part of security systems across the globe. As a result, AI has begun to permeate several markets — including the travel industry.
In a post-9/11 world in which terrorist groups and other combatants have made more than enough show of their presence, AI is becoming a powerful tool to enhance travel safety.
With cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence example systems now in place to keep travelers safe, travel defense has entered the twenty-first century. Below, we’ll take a look at some of the latest and greatest in AI travel innovation to see just how our travels are protected. Artificial Intelligence Examples in Airport Security
Artificial Intelligence Examples in Airport Security
In the United States, there’s no type of travel more vetted than air travel. Following the plane hijackings of 9/11, the US government has been on high alert for copycat offenders.
For this reason, the government has increasingly turned to AI to provide better transportation security. With several new AI systems in use, US airports have become some of the safest places on Earth.
If you’ve been to the airport recently, you’re no stranger to the strict regulations in place. But would it surprise you to learn that AI systems are currently in development to improve already-strict airport security?
Let’s take a look at just some of the ways AI looks to revamp travel security in the coming decade.
AI Airport Security Screenings
Those who have waited in an airport security line know one thing: speed isn’t their priority. In fact, mistiming your arrival at the airport can put you at risk of missing your flight if you haven’t left enough time to make it through long, winding security lines.
But with the coming of AI to airports — and potentially other — places around the world in the coming decade, this may soon be changing.
It’s been revealed, for instance, that a startup funded by Bill Gates looks to totally reimagine the way we think of airport security.
We’re all familiar with the long, slow lines and body scanners currently found in airports today. These controversial scanners used by the TSA require a person to come to a full stop while they wait for their body to be scanned. As can be imagined, this process often proves painfully slow, causing delays and more-congested waiting lines.
With the addition of this all-new AI technology, however, TSA and other security agents will be able to harness the power of machines in order to dramatically decrease waiting times. To do this, they’ll replace these more traditional and outdated scanners with a new generation of body scanners.
And what makes these scanners so special?
A prototype developed by Evolv Technology in 2016 has already showcased its jaw-dropping potential. The company claims that its scanners can examine up to 800 people an hour.
If you’re a frequent flyer, you know just how impressive that is — and you likely don’t believe it. What is it about these systems that would allow them to go several times as fast as current processing times?
How about this: it utilizes a state-of-the-art AI recognition system and machine eyes to examine the bodies of everyone walking through.
What really sets these devices apart, however, is the fact that they’ll be able to do it without a person having to slow down, remove any clothing, or take out anything in their pockets. This means that the speed at which travelers will be examined should raise exponentially — making airport transportation more convenient than ever before.
What’s more, these fast readings will rely on powerful AI systems that can instantly pinpoint illegal and contraband objects to alert security professionals immediately. This leads to enhanced security and convenience across the board.
AI — Passport Controls
The evolution of AI also means that passport control measures taken at airports will be radically altered. Some countries, including the United States, have already started investing in more AI-driven systems to help increase security at their airports.
But over the course of the next decade, travelers can expect AI-related passport controls to be the norm. For instance, Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 4 offers a seamless automated security screening from check-in, body screening, passport controls, and boarding gate.
Less than a decade ago, for example, the US started to make use of kiosks for visitors and citizens as they returned from international destinations. These kiosks scan and process passport information, alerting attendants to know if there happen to be any red flags.
While this makes for added security, one of its largest benefits has been to increase a traveler’s time and maximize his convenience. Because these scanners can read and instantaneously process a user’s passport, sensitive information can be quickly updated and stored.
This is just one way, however, that passport controls have now begun to increasingly rely on AI.
And compared to some countries, it’s just scratching the surface. To fully understand the impact AI looks to have on the travel industry, it’s important to take a look at just how it’s being used to up airport security measures.
To do so, consider the two following ways in which AI has begun to supplement passport controls below.
1. AI — Facial Recognition
Those who have traveled internationally know already that facial recognition has been a part of airport security for quite some time.
Travelers to Korea — and some other countries — for instance, must pause at border control for an image. In the event of an accident or incident, the government can then access this image and run it through an AI database to help locate or identify the foreigner involved.
That, however, now only scratches the surface of what AI has brought to facial recognition security technology.
First-class travelers to Dubai, for example, maybe shocked to find that the country has a state-of-the-art facial recognition system in place. Unlike other airports that require a passport to be manually checked and stamped, Dubai makes use of powerful AI systems to provide for a more convenient and practical experience.
Researchers there have developed a full-body scanner that instantly stores one’s personal information and pictures as soon as they walk through it. This is now done in lieu of checking passports, as all the needed information regarding the traveler can be found from accessing the scanned images.
This takes traditional facial recognition technology to the next level. By using this state-of-the-art AI scanner system, the Dubai airport dramatically increases border control times. Additionally, because the full-body scanner can capture and store a wealth of information about each traveler, citizens can expect enhanced security while traveling.
2. AI — Biometrics
Facial recognition isn’t the only type of AI biometrics on the rise at airports across the nation. Reports indicate that many major airports across the world are now looking into developing more sophisticated AI infrastructures.
This includes measures such as fingerprinting and retinal scanning. This, in a way, realizes some of the science-fiction ideas of the past, turning them into a reality that greatly enhances the safety of airports across the world.
Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta now looks to become the first airport in the United States to use facial recognition technology, while many already offer fingerprinting and other options.
Ultimately, though many citizens may have growing concerns over their privacy, these new AI security measures look to make both domestic and international transportation safer in the coming decade.
With some predicting that we could have human-like AI in the near future, one can only imagine what the end of the decade will bring for travel and airport security. With research and development underway, it’s possible that the face of the airport and other travel security will be unrecognizable as it stands today.
That being said, to fully understand the shift to more AI-based security measures, one must first know how AI can be used to identify criminals.
How Does AI Identify Criminals?
AI systems use a variety of processes to identify criminals. Perhaps facial recognition offers the most straightforward example.
Under current AI systems, facial recognition can be used by running an image against a database of images. These systems measure these faces along with a number of lines, looking for points of similarity. If enough are found, a list of relevant photos will be produced, allowing for human eyes to determine which one is a match.
An Artificial Intelligence example with more advanced systems like the biometrics system implemented in Dubai supplements this process with powerful AI technology. As noted, these scanners can now record and store information regarding travelers in seconds. This stored information will then be added to a database so that if something were to happen later, any images obtained could be run through the government’s database.
In this way, AI allows for real-time information collection, allowing governments to keep track of just who is in their countries. By assisting in the initial collection of and the subsequent analysis of data, AI can help identify criminals and make traveling safer.
How Is AI Coding Done?
AI coding is currently done by coding professionals. Complex AI systems require the use of teams of professionals, all of whom specialize in various computing and software codes.
C++ is a common coding language — though certainly not the only one. The level of coding required to operate an AI system depends on its complexity.
For now, coding breakthroughs are achieved by human researchers and developers. However, some technological experts believe that by 2050, AI machines could start writing their own codes — basically giving them the autonomy to do what they want.
This unnerving thought aside, the continued coding developments in transportation security look to make traveling safer than ever before.
What’s the Overall Purpose of AI Coding?
AI coding looks to streamline and enhance activities and functions that humans either don’t want to do or can’t do as efficiently. Therefore, Artificial Intelligence examples of machine learning have been widely introduced into airport security screenings.
In terms of airport security, for instance, body scanners provide a quick-and-easy alternative to traditional methods of halfway-undressing before getting patted down by the TSA.
But these codes are designed to do more than just save time. They’re also written in such a way that they can maximize security by detecting dangerous objects that would be lost to human eyes.
In this way, the overall purpose of AI can be said to be to improve the human experience. Though fears of AI running wild remain rampant, current development focuses on how to use AI to make life better for humans. For example, you may remember the supercomputer AI in transportation security looks to be another way in which this new-age technology improves the human experience such as ‘Watson’ that soundly beat all Jeopardy! Champions just a few short years ago.
Though many lost sight of ‘Watson’ following his Jeopardy! appearance, this supercomputer was put to good use. Now, ‘Watson’ is used to aiding in medical diagnoses by searching and finding incredibly-rare diseases at light speed.
How Is AI Used to Curb Crimes on Public Transport in Global Cities?
The crime-fighting ability of AI isn’t just limited to airport transportation. Many countries around the world are now utilizing AI systems to enhance the safety of their public transportation programs.
China, for instance, uses AI scanners that detect any dangerous materials in the baggage of those looking to board subways and trains.
The use of video recording equipment also serves as a deterrent, as modern AI systems can quickly identify criminals through facial recognition technology.
As AI systems continue to develop, it may be that some of the stricter security measures taken at airports find themselves in other places of public transportation as well.
Conclusion
What is Artificial Intelligence (A.I)? In today’s modern era, AI has become the go-to for new-age air transportation security. The ability of AI systems to quickly capture and process a wealth of information makes it uniquely able to enhance the security of airports and other places of transportation.
With newer Artificial Intelligence examples, AI systems capable of providing full-body scans on moving targets in just a matter of seconds, the future of transportation security looks bright. By streamlining security measures while still retaining accuracy, AI is on the way to reducing crimes on various forms of public transportation across the globe.
Thanks to the sophisticated machine learning in AI evolution, we are able to travel safely, and curb criminals from entering through our back yards.
- This article was written by me here.
