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In the wake of the shooting on the N train in the New York City subway system, many are wary of using the subway system to get to and from work. At the same time, however, rideshare companies are being criticized as their algorithms increased prices due to the demand from commuters seeking to avoid the subway. 

During an interview with Uptown Radio, a project of Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, Don Heider suggested that AI could help rideshare companies respond to emergency situations such as these. "Of course, all the surge is based on is demand, and of course when there’s an emergency of some kind, demand is gonna skyrocket. What they could do is have an AI-triggered warning system that let them know. In this particular case, I don't think they did anything particularly unethical. But I do think they probably could have responded quicker."

Don Heider, executive director, interviewed by Uptown Radio, A project of Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.