24 Sep 2024

Government using artificial intelligence to analyse public submissions

9:20 am on 24 September 2024
Speed limit sign

Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Transport Ministry officials have used artificial intelligence to analyse public submissions on changes to road speed rules.

The government has previously stated it wanted AI used a lot more.

The Ministry also used AI in analysing public submissions on the draft government policy statement on land transport.

The aim was to test it on labour intensive tasks, freeing staff up for other policy work, it said.

It said it alerted the public to this, did not use any personal information on any AI tool outside its network and did a privacy impact assessment.

"The pilot was run in a sandboxed - or contained - area to reduce risk."

Other AI trials have been underway at ACC for a year.