Russian AI-Powered Tram Malfunctions, Injures Passengers in St. Petersburg Crash
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A tram with experimental Russian AI crashed in St. Petersburg after its brake system failed, injuring several people and leaving a 45-year-old woman trapped underneath.
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The $1.7 million "retro" tram was fitted with AI and on a test run with a driver when the AI system unexpectedly turned off and the brakes failed.
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The tram was made by a Russian company that supplies arms for Russia's war effort, as part of a fleet of new "smart trams" that will ultimately be driverless.
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The tram brakes had been checked and the experienced driver cleared before the test run, but they failed when he tried to slow down, as did the emergency brake.
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The incident has damaged confidence in the Russian-designed AI "driver assistance system" and the overall safety of driverless trams.