Editor’sCTLAColumn

AsI wait for spring to arrive, the buzz around new technologies and its influence on society as a whole remains constant. We are moving away from using groundhogs to tell us whether we will have an early spring or six more weeks of winter (Balzac Billy said Southern Alberta would get an early spring and yet the snow has been falling for three consecutive days at the time of this writing) to using data gathered from technology that get more advanced with each passing year. From my extensive internet research into Balzac Billy’s accuracy, his accuracy rate is “in the high 70s.”1 We as humans believe we can do better than “high 70s” accuracy and use all of the resources we have at our fingertips to increase the accuracy of our predictions. However, Mother Nature is so unpredictable, no matter what technological advancements are available, our predictions will always just be that – predictions. Obviously, technology is not just used to forecast the weather. What would we be doing if we were not using technology to make our lives easier and more efficient. I think back to my childhood when I was watching The Jetsons and thinking the world they lived in was beyond reach. While commuting in flying cars is not yet a reality, video calls across the globe, robot helpers and interactive movies are a normal part of our lives. Lately, there has been a lot of interest and discussion around ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot that is trained to follow an instruction and provide a detailed response. I was curious what it would write if I asked it to draft a few paragraphs on technology’s impact on the transportation industry. Here’s what it generated.

New technology has been rapidly transforming the transportation industry over the past decade. From electric cars to self-driving vehicles, innovations in technology have brought about significant changes that are shaping the future of transportation. One of the most significant impacts of new technology has been the rise of electric vehicles (EVs). As battery technology has advanced, electric cars have been increasingly accessible and affordable, and this trend is expected to continue as battery costs decline.

Another area where technology is transforming the transportation industry is in the development of autonomous vehicles. Self-driving cars are no longer a thing of the future, a many companies are already testing and deploying them on public roads. These vehicles have the potential to revolutionize transportation by reducing accidents and improving mobility for people who are unable to drive, such as the elderly and disabled.

The transportation industry is also being influenced by advances in data analytics and the internet of things (IoT). Data can now be collected from sensors placed in vehicles, roads, and other infrastructure, providing real-time information about traffic, weather, and other factors that affect transportation. This data can be used to optimize routes, reduce congestion, and improve safety.

Furthermore, technology is changing the way we pay for transportation. Contactless payment systems are now widely available, making it easier and more convenient to pay for public transportation. Some cities are even experimenting with pay-as-you-go systems, where passengers only pay for the distance they travel, rather than a flat fee for a journey.

In conclusion, new technology is having a profound impact on the transportation industry, from the development of electric and autonomous vehicles to the use of data analytics and contactless payment systems. These advances are changing the way we move people and goods and are creating new opportunities for innovation and growth. As technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more transformative changes in the transportation industry in the coming years.

Not bad considering the open-ended topic it was instructed to write about. My first impression is that the discussion points are generic and lack any unique and in-depth analysis. That could be due to the instructions I provided to the chatbot but there is something to be said about experience and opinion generated from that experience. It’s a great tool to have but our profession still requires the unique perspectives of industry experts.

The Canadian content for this edition of The Transportation Lawyer come from experts on railway transportation, and they include an article by Elizabeth Fashler and Erin McKlusky titled “A Railway Focused Overview of Bill C-33: Strengthening the Port System and Railway Safety in Canada Act ” about the impact of proposed changes set out in Bill C-33 to rail operations and an article by JeanFrançois Bilodeau titled “Lac-Mégantic Judgement and Montreal Maine Atlantic Liability” summarizing the Québec Superior Court’s decision regarding the Lac-Mégantic rail tragedy.

It’s not too soon to start planning your trip to attend the CTLA Annual Conference being held in beautiful Montreal, Québec October 19-21. We look forward to seeing you there!