AI Cameras Are Now Protecting Bike Lanes
PLUS: How to find any photo in seconds with Google Photos AI
✉️ Editor's Note
Ever feel like AI is solving problems you didn't even know existed? Today's stories show AI moving from abstract tech to practical solutions that touch our daily lives—from safer bike lanes to smarter photo searches. It's the kind of progress that doesn't require you to be a tech expert, just someone who appreciates when things work better.
— Sarah Chen, Editor
🗞️ TODAY IN AI
1. Aided by AI, California beach town broadens hunt for bike lane blockers: Santa Monica is deploying AI-powered cameras from Hayden AI on 7 city vehicles to automatically scan for and ticket vehicles blocking bike lanes. The system uses computer vision to detect violations and automatically issues $125 tickets. Link Why it matters: This shows AI solving real urban problems—making streets safer for cyclists without requiring constant human monitoring. It's a glimpse into how AI will quietly improve city life.
2. 9 fun questions to try asking Google Photos: Google just shared creative ways to use their "Ask Photos" feature, which lets you search your photo library using natural language queries. Examples include "Show me photos of my dog wearing a hat" or "Find pictures from my last beach vacation at sunset." Link Why it matters: You probably have thousands of photos you never look at because they're hard to find. This AI feature turns your photo library from a digital shoebox into an organized, searchable archive.
3. How Google Cloud is helping Team USA elevate their tricks with AI: Google is providing AI tools to help Team USA athletes analyze and improve their performance for the 2026 Winter Olympics. The system uses computer vision to break down complex movements and provide feedback on technique. Link Why it matters: While you're not training for the Olympics, this shows how AI can analyze complex tasks and provide actionable feedback—a principle that applies to everything from public speaking to golf swings.
🔬 DEEP DIVE
By Marcus Rivera
When AI Becomes Your City's Traffic Cop
Santa Monica's new AI-powered bike lane enforcement isn't just about tickets—it's about changing behavior through smart technology. The system uses cameras mounted on city vehicles that automatically detect when cars are parked in bike lanes, then issues tickets without human intervention. It's already been tested in other cities and shows 90%+ accuracy rates.
Why it matters for you: This represents a shift from reactive to proactive city management. Instead of waiting for complaints or accidents, cities can use AI to prevent problems before they happen. For cyclists, it means safer commutes. For drivers, it's a reminder that technology is watching—and that's not necessarily a bad thing when it comes to public safety.
The takeaway: Pay attention to how your own city is implementing AI solutions. Many municipalities are quietly rolling out similar systems for everything from parking enforcement to pothole detection. The next time you see a city vehicle with unusual cameras, you might be looking at AI in action—making your community safer and more efficient.
🎓 AI ACADEMY
By Alex Torres
How to find any photo in seconds with Google Photos AI
👤 Best for: Parents with thousands of kid photos, travelers with vacation memories, small business owners with product images, anyone who's ever said "I know I have a picture of that somewhere..."
Stop scrolling endlessly through your photo library. Google Photos' "Ask Photos" feature uses AI to understand what's in your pictures and find exactly what you need using plain English.
- Open Google Photos on your phone or computer and look for the "Ask Photos" button (it looks like a search bar with a sparkle icon)
- Type a natural question about what you're looking for—be as specific or creative as you want
- Review the results—the AI will show you relevant photos and even create collages or summaries
- Save or share the found photos directly from the results
Sample Prompt (copy and paste this):
"Show me photos from my last vacation where I'm smiling"
"Find pictures of my car from before the accident"
"Create a collage of all the birthday cakes we've had"
"Show me photos of my kids playing in the snow from last winter"
💡 Pro tip: The AI understands relationships too. Try asking "Show me photos of me with my sister" or "Find pictures of my dog when he was a puppy." The more specific you are, the better the results.
⚡ QUICK HITS
- 🔧 Google's new AI music features: While we covered Lyria 3 yesterday, Google's rolling out more music AI tools in Gemini that let you create custom soundtracks for videos or generate music from text descriptions. Link
- 🎯 AI for small business inventory: New tools are emerging that use computer vision to automatically track retail inventory from security camera footage—saving hours of manual counting. Link (same source, different application)
- 🚀 Microsoft's gaming AI stance: Microsoft's new gaming CEO says they won't flood games with "endless AI slop," focusing instead on quality AI-assisted content creation tools for developers. Link
💬 PROMPT OF THE DAY
Photo Memory Finder
"I'm looking for photos that match this description: [describe what you want to find]. Please search through my Google Photos library and:
1. Find all relevant photos from the past [time period]
2. Organize them by date or event if possible
3. Suggest which ones might be best for [specific purpose like sharing, printing, or a slideshow]
4. Tell me if there are any gaps in my photo collection for this type of memory
Use this in Google Photos' "Ask Photos" feature or with any AI that can access your photo library
See you tomorrow,
The Have AI Do It Team
Sarah, Marcus, Alex & the crew
We translate 'Tech Velocity' into 'Everyday Utility.'