A House Oversight Oversight and Government Reform Committee panel is seeking information from a major car rental company about its use of artificial intelligence (AI) to inspect cars for damage.
The subcommittee on cybersecurity, information technology, and government innovation recently requested a meeting with officials from Hertz to discuss the technology’s use.
“Some other car rental companies reportedly use AI as a tool but require human staff to review any damage flagged by the scanning system before billing customers; however, Hertz is apparently the only car rental company in the U.S. that issues damage assessments to customers without human review,” subcommittee Chair Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) wrote in a letter to Hertz CEO Gil West.
Hertz’s AI scanners, which the company has been rolling out in airports this year, assess automobiles as they exit and enter the location, then quickly charge the user based on AI-documented damage without an independent review from a human.
Reports have spread since the scanning system began about questionable charges over damages detected by AI.
MotorTrend reported in April that the scanners measure treadwear and can analyze a car’s undercarriage, body and glass. The system is powered by Israeli tech company UVeye.
Hertz didn’t immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment.
