Hong Kong rail uses artificial intelligence to deploy engineers

HONG KONG — In a typical week, 10,000 people carry out 2600 engineering works across Hong Kong's subway system — from grinding rough rails smooth and replacing tracks to checking for damage. Each task is scheduled and managed by artificial intelligence (AI), according to a New Scientist report.

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The AI overseer, which works with a simulated model of the entire system to find the best schedule for necessary engineering works, saves MTR two days a week of wrangling over the repair schedule. Also, MTR's repair teams now have 30 minutes longer to finish their night's work — a small time boost that saves MTR $800,000 a year, the report said.

MTR is now planning to roll out its AI overseer to the other networks it manages — Stockholm, Melbourne, London and Beijing,

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