The Interior Department will launch self-driving shuttles this year at California’s Yosemite National Park and Maine’s Acadia National Park, along with drones and artificial intelligence working behind the scenes.
The agency announced the plans in an employee newsletter Tuesday, calling the effort an AI success story, a nod to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s keen interest in deploying new technology across his department.
The shuttles will “make travel easier and reduce congestion,” while AI, drones and robotic devices will “analyze visitor patterns and sensor data to predict traffic, enhance emergency response and schedule restroom cleanings,” the bulletin states.
Burgum, a former software CEO, has made deploying AI a top priority for Interior offices, launching an initiative in September. He’s argued that AI can make government agencies more efficient.
