This paper presents crash rate benchmarks for evaluating US-based Automated Driving Systems (ADS) for multiple urban areas. The purpose of this study was to extend prior benchmarks focused only on surface streets to additionally capture freeway crash risk for future ADS safety performance assessments. Using publicly available police-reported crash and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) data, the methodology details the isolation of in-transport passenger vehicles, road type classification, and crash typology. Key findings revealed that freeway crash rates exhibit large geographic dependence variations with any-injury-reported crash rates being nearly 3.5 times higher in Atlanta (2.4 IPMM; the highest) when compared to Phoenix (0.7 IPMM; the lowest). The results show the critical need for location-specific benchmarks to avoid biased safety evaluations and provide insights into the vehicle miles traveled (VMT) required to achieve statistical significance for various safety impact levels. The distribution of crash types depended on the outcome severity level. Higher severity outcomes (e.g., fatal crashes) had a larger proportion of single-vehicle, vulnerable road users (VRU), and opposite-direction collisions compared to lower severity (police-reported) crashes. Given heterogeneity in crash types by severity, performance in low-severity scenarios may not be predictive of high-severity outcomes. These benchmarks are additionally used to quantify at the required mileage to show statistically significant deviations from human performance. This is the first paper to generate freeway-specific benchmarks for ADS evaluation and provides a foundational framework for future ADS benchmarking by evaluators and developers.

The National Youth Assembly on AI was organised by the Government as part of its aim to demystify this technology. As part of the Government's national AI strategy, young people from across Ireland are being invited to share their thoughts on the tech and how it can be used. Young delegates are today (12 October) attending the National Youth Assembly on Artificial Intelligence at the Tangent ideas workspace in Trinity College Dublin (TCD). These delegates are being joined by guest delegates from groups such as Spun Out and Foróige. Together, they will discuss AI and present their recommendations and thoughts to the Government.

Ireland has appointed Dr Patricia Scanlon as its first AI Ambassador to facilitate the Government's AI adoption strategy launched last year. Patricia is the founder and former executive chairperson of the speech recognition tech firm called SoapBox Labs. Ireland's'AI – Here For Good' strategy focuses on how technology can be utilised in human-centric and ethical ways to improve the lives of its citizens. Dr Scanlon, a member of the Enterprise Digital Advisory Forum (EDAF), will work closely with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. She will work on demystifying AI and promoting the positive impacts it can have in areas such as transport, agriculture, health and education.

The Government has appointed Ireland's first Artificial Intelligence Ambassador. Businesswoman Dr Patricia Scanlon is taking up the role and will be tasked with communicating with businesses, schools and institutions about the benefits and risks of AI. She is the founder and Executive Chairperson of SoapBox Labs, which uses artificial intelligence in the development of voice and speech recognition applications designed for children's voices. From robots and facial recognition software, to social media apps and streaming platforms - AI is playing an increasingly significant role in people's lives. There are ethical concerns about the technology when it comes to privacy, surveillance, bias and discrimination.

Highly regarded voicetech company Soapbox Labs is to more than double staff numbers over the next two years as it names a new chief executive and positions itself for significant growth. The company intends to grow headcount to 80 employees over the next two years having taken on an additional 10 people in 2020 to bring employee numbers to 30. Soapbox founder and chief executive Dr Patricia Scanlon is to become the company's executive chair with chief operating officer Dr Martyn Farrows replacing her. The changes come as Soapbox is preparing to announce a number of major new client deals and partnerships in the coming months and release its first consumer solutions for apps, toys, games and robots. Established in 2013, SoapBox uses artificial intelligence and deep learning to develop cloud-based speech recognition solutions for young children aged between three and 12.