5 Ways AI Is Making The World A Safer Place

Artificial intelligence has skeptics, critics and scaremongerers. People are trolling AI news sites and starting protests against the technology. But it’s not all lost jobs and robots taking over. Discoveries and new inventions in artificial intelligence are making the world a safer place for humans. And that’s the point.

Here’s what’s been happening around the world.

Artificial intelligence that is making humans safer

Catching drivers on their phones

Even if your business is booming and your personal brand is poppin’, you can take a car journey without checking in. There’s no need to be on your phone when you’re driving. No excuses, no exceptions, it’s dangerous to you and everyone around you and it needs to be stopped.

AI is here to help. Cameras using artificial intelligence are being deployed in Greater Manchester as part of a national trial to detect drivers using their phones. The technology, developed by Acusensus, captures footage which is then reviewed by AI software and undergoes secondary human checks to confirm any offenses.

Transport for Greater Manchester reported that distractions like mobile phone use are major contributors to crashes, emphasizing that drivers are four times more likely to crash if they use their phones. It won’t be long before these type of detectors are on every road.

Detecting people at risk of heart attack

Entrepreneurs work 63% longer hours than regular employees, which is linked with greater risk of heart problems. About 45% of business owners say they are stressed. When you’re running a business, every day can feel like a rollercoaster. Couple that with lack of sleep (from stress or excitement), bad eating (from all those fancy dinners) and neglect of exercise when your clients compromise your strongest boundaries, and heart attack risk goes through the roof.

AI can help. A new AI model developed by Oxford University spinout Caristo Diagnostics is making significant strides in detecting heart attack risks. The AI technology analyzes CT scans to identify coronary inflammation, a condition that does not typically show up on standard scans. The AI model is currently being piloted across several NHS hospital trusts in the UK.

Then there’s Cleerly, which uses AI and CT scans to analyze plaque buildup in coronary arteries, giving heart disease risk assessments and treatment recommendations, and Bloomer Tech who created the Bloomer Bra cardiac monitor disguised as a bra that collects vital health data to detect early signs of heart disease in women.

Venturing into hazardous areas

In 2022 there were 5,486 fatal work injuries in the United States in 2022, many of which could have been prevented. There is no way you or anyone in your team should be doing anything dangerous. Climbing ladders, crossing the road when it’s not safe to do so, or anything else that compromises your safety. All you have to do is stay alive.

AI is doing the jobs you hate, especially those that could cost your life. Oxford Dynamics has developed a robot named Strider, designed to venture into areas hazardous to humans, including environments with chemical, biological, or nuclear risks. This AI-powered robot can operate in challenging terrains and is capable of retrieving contaminated objects and performing tasks that would be dangerous for humans.

With a contract from the UK Ministry of Defence, Strider is set to play a crucial role in managing incidents where human safety is at significant risk. The company aims to integrate advanced AI software into Strider, enhancing its capabilities and potentially expanding its use to other spaces, such as submarines or fighter jets.

Doing food safety inspections

Foodborne illnesses affect millions of people worldwide each year. For food producers, processors, and retailers, ensuring food safety is not only a legal and ethical obligation but also crucial for maintaining consumer trust and business reputation.

AI-powered visual inspection rapidly scans food items on production lines, detecting defects with high speed and accuracy. AI predictive analytics forecasts food safety risks by analyzing diverse data, enabling preemptive measures. AI-driven pathogen detection identifies harmful microorganisms in food, accelerating testing and recalls. Finally, AI-enabled smart sensors monitor the food supply chain, maintaining proper storage and alerting kitchen staff to deviations.

AI is now revolutionizing food safety inspection processes, making them faster, more accurate, and more comprehensive than ever before. Companies like IBM Food Trust and Kewpie Corporation in Japan are already implementing AI-driven food safety systems. Kewpie, for example, uses AI to inspect up to 300,000 eggs per hour for cracks and other defects, significantly reducing the risk of contamination.

Spotting people not wearing seat belts

Seat belts were invented in 1955 but it took until 1968 for seat belts to be made a mandatory feature in UK and USA cars. And even then, using them wasn’t law. As seat belts started to be used, the number of fatal accidents plummeted. Wearing one makes sense for you and everyone else.

AI has been catching people not wearing seat belts. In Devon and Cornwall, in the south-west of England, AI cameras detected over 2,000 seat belt offenses, including 109 involving children, on three major roads between July and August 2024. The head of road safety for Devon and Cornwall Police, Adrian Leisk, expressed concern over the alarming number of children caught without seat belts and called for stricter penalties, including penalty points on drivers’ licenses.

The AI cameras, part of a 12-month project funded by fines from road offenses, use high-tech imaging to capture clear evidence of seat belt violations, which are then reviewed by humans to confirm the offense. Buckle up, drivers and passengers. AI is changing the car safety game.

Artificial intelligence that is making humans safer

AI is making humans safer in a variety of ways. It’s catching people on their phones, not wearing seat belts, and detecting fatal health conditions. It’s venturing into hazardous scenes on our behalf and inspecting our food before we eat it.

Living an AI-powered life could be better for us all. Let’s co-exist with the robots and do more of what makes us human.