Technology
Lawmakers seek FAA pause on $875 million AI tool
Livemint··3d ago
More than two dozen lawmakers asked the FAA to pause a new AI traffic tool near Washington, citing missing safety reports. The agency began using SMART last month. It awarded Air Space Intelligence $875 million over 12 years in June. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said controllers stay in charge and called the software dumb AI Tuesday.
Prism
What It Means For You
- SMART initially covers Washington airspace before a planned national rollout.
- Lawmakers set an October 19 deadline for answers on training and safety reports.
- The tool reads over 200 data streams but does not actively fly aircraft.
What's Happening
- Signers included Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Don Beyer.
- Senator Chris Van Hollen and Representative Jamie Raskin also signed the letter.
- FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford told Reuters the system should improve decisions.
SMART contract scope
- SMART stands for Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes, and Trajectories.
- Planned uses include rescheduling flights canceled for weather before departure.
- USDOT said experts review scheduling recommendations before passing them on.
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