Later this year, a Queensland council will trial Australia’s first traffic light system powered by artificial intelligence (AI).

The new traffic technology will be trialled by the City of Moreton Bay at the intersection of two suburban roads in Petrie, just north of Brisbane.

At first, this might sound like a small transport story. But it raises hard questions about fairness, safety and who gets priority on public roads.

And if this trial works, similar systems may be used in other Australian towns.

How AI traffic lights work

At every traffic intersection, cars, buses, cyclists and pedestrians compete for time.

A conventional traffic light is like a kitchen timer with a few settings. Road sensors may change some timings, but the lights still follow a set of rules. This can leave an empty road on green while a long queue waits at red. It is not always smart.

An AI traffic light is more like a referee watching the intersection and adjusting the timing.

It can use sensors and traffic........

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