The developer of a new AI system now under scrutiny as airplanes stand grounded nationwide funneled cash into the political campaign of Transportation chief Sean Duffy’s son-in-law, records show.
Air Space Intelligence, the contractor Duffy announced in June would develop the Federal Aviation Administration’s new AI-powered air traffic management system, contributed $12,500 to the congressional campaign of U.S. Rep.-elect Michael Alfonso (R-WI) in March this year, federal records show.
The contract it won was worth up to $875.9 million.
The Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories (SMART) system launched this week, according to CNN National Security analyst Juliette Kayyem.
“The FAA onboarded a new AI system 3 days ago,” Kayyem wrote on X. “Hard to believe it’s a coincidence.”
Air Space Intelligence’s X account tweeted a denial that it was involved in Friday’s chaotic downing of the national aviation system.
“The current ground stop is not based on or a result of the SMART system, any product of ASI or our integration with FAA and ATC,” it wrote.
One month after Duffy announced Air Space Intelligence’s SMART would be used to cut delays and optimize airspace, Politico reported the Federal Aviation Administration was working to buy an ownership stake.
It wasn’t long before Congress members were raising the alarm about Air Space Intelligence and the system it was starting to unroll.
“Concerningly, the nation’s frontline aviation safety workforce apparently had little to no input into SMART’s development and have received limited training and information during the current deployment process,” 23 House representatives wrote last month.
“The use of artificial intelligence within SMART has rightfully raised serious questions about its reliability and safety benefits.”
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