U.S. Transportation Dept Turns to AI for Speedy Safety Rules

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT) is making waves with its plan to deploy Google's Gemini artificial intelligence system for drafting critical safety regulations - a process that traditionally takes months or years might soon be completed in mere seconds.

Image source note: The image was generated by AI, and the image service provider is Midjourney.

The Need for Speed

Internal documents reveal DoT lawyers championing what they call "revolutionary" efficiency gains. Where human teams might spend months researching and drafting rules for aviation, automotive, rail or maritime safety, Gemini can produce initial drafts almost instantly.

"We're not chasing perfection here," admitted Gregory Zerzan, DoT's General Counsel, in remarks that raised eyebrows among regulatory experts. "Good enough rules that cover all bases - that's our target."

Experts Sound Alarm Bells

The rush toward AI-assisted regulation hasn't been universally applauded:

• Hallucination hazards: Gemini's documented tendency to "make things up" worries specialists who deal with life-and-death transportation systems.
• Experience gap: Former DoT Chief AI Officer Mike Horton likened the approach to "handing regulatory writing assignments to a bright high school intern."
• Legal limbo: Rapid-fire rulemaking could create compliance nightmares if policies haven't been properly vetted, legal analysts caution.

The initiative reportedly has political backing from former President Trump's camp, with supporters pushing ambitious timelines requiring draft rules within 30 days.

Balancing Act Ahead

As transportation officials embrace this digital shortcut, they face tough questions about maintaining quality control while delivering on promises of unprecedented speed. Can algorithms truly grasp the nuances of aviation safety protocols or maritime navigation rules? Will rushed regulations stand up in court?

The answers may determine whether this bold experiment becomes standard practice or serves as a cautionary tale about the limits of AI in governance.

Key Points:

• DoT aims to slash regulation drafting time from months/years to seconds using Gemini AI
• Focus on "good enough" rather than perfect rules raises professional concerns
• Experts warn about potential risks from AI errors in critical safety areas
• Legal questions emerge about accountability for algorithm-generated policies