Technology based on artificial intelligence is influencing every part of our personal and professional lives. The same is true with policing. Police personnel has been employing software for crime prevention, crowd control, and facial recognition for several years.
In recent years, the rate of AI usage for security objectives has accelerated. AI has recently aided in the development and delivery of unique police services, the connection between police and citizens, building trust, and the strengthening of ties with communities. Smart technologies including biometrics, facial recognition, smart cameras, and video surveillance systems are increasing in use. According to recent research, communities could cut crime by 30 to 40% and emergency service response times by 20 to 35% with smart technologies like AI. The same study discovered that communities are beginning to spend money on crowd control, gunshot detection, and real-time crime mapping. For the purpose of ensuring public safety, cities are utilizing facial recognition and biometrics (84%), in-car and body cameras for police (55%), drones and aerial surveillance (46%) as well as crowdsourcing crime reporting and emergency apps (39%). But only 8% of police departments embrace data-driven policing. According to the AI Global Surveillance (AIGS) Index 2019, 56 out of 176 nations deployed AI for surveillance for safe city platforms but using various methods. By 2022, 40% of police departments, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC), will be using digital tools, like shared workflows and live video streaming, to promote community safety.
Surveillance
Although surveillance is nothing new, cities are exploring the potential of evaluating surveillance data to forecast crime to increase security. Cities already take pictures for surveillance, but with AI, those pictures can be analyzed and used much more swiftly. It is now possible to sort through vast amounts of data on crime and terrorism and find patterns, correlations, and trends thanks to machine learning and big data analysis. Technology is the layer that helps law enforcement agencies to better do their duties and incite behavior change when the correct relationships are in place. The ultimate objective is to develop flexible security systems that are capable of identifying criminal or terrorist networks, and suspicious activities, and even helping to improve the efficiency of judicial institutions.
RoboCops
As AI’s best use right now is shifting through vast amounts of data and using that as predictions for future crimes that is not where is it being limited. The rising technology of robots being paired with AI to help patrol the streets is coming to life as you read this. The deployment of robots in the San Francisco police department was approved by city council members in November 2022. These robots were equipped with the ability to use lethal force to prevent crime and aid police officers in taking down dangerous criminals. But after a significant outcry from the public, the city was obliged to reverse its decision just under a month after it had been approved. Robots are still employed by the San Francisco police department despite the ban on using fatal force. Other places of the world are also experiencing the same thing. For instance, China intends to place robots with artificial intelligence (AI) in most of its cities by 2025. Thus, over the next 30 years, South Korea plans to outfit its police force with Iron Man-like outfits and robotic dogs to patrol the streets. Here is a summary of the advantages of deploying robots in law enforcement and their morality considering it.
While personally I do not think that robots should be equiped with anything to cause harm to humans at the moment there is more practical uses of robots in the police force. For example, the 400-pound robot known as HP RoboCop was unveiled by the Huntington Park Police Department as its newest officer. Since then, it has been policing Salt Lake Park in California and assisting with arrests. Imagine a group of these robots working together to lay down a security net around the city; this would significantly lower crime. The police department was able to find criminals with evidence in 6–8 hours thanks to this particular robot!
Conclusion
I believe that AI and technology can help keep the streets a much safer place. I believe we are not far from having robots roam the streets scanning faces and tracking data. However, I do believe we are far from having robots roaming the streets with any type of weapon. There are lots of ethical and moralities that conflict with the idea of robots have the power of killing anyone. Robots can take control of traffic violations and surveillance making there less of a need for cops in everyday use. Instead, cops can now have a bigger focus on bigger issues in our society rather than just roaming the streets looking for trouble. What are your thoughts on robo-cops? Scary or cool? Would you feel safer with robots scanning public parks/ neighborhoods?
Yah this is wild. I think when we give robots the opportunity to harm humans is where I get a bit uncomfortable with the development of AI and robots. Especially if they are trained on biased data this could open a world of problems, however, I do believe the use of these bots for surveillance or other uses is a great application of technology.
Hey Chase, that video was both informative and kind of funny. Seeing that robo cop drive around patrolling is pretty entertaining. Regarding your post in general, I’m a little worried about having so much surveillance around. I definitely see the benefits of using machines/AI to decrease crime, reduce abuse of power, etc., but I feel like we would lose so much of our privacy. It’s hard to imagine going to the park, on a hike, playing basketball, and more while having multiple cameras/robots surveying everything all the time.
I’m not sure how I would feel. On one hand, I love the idea of safer streets and better traffic control. However, I wouldn’t feel as comfortable if robots were patrolling the streets and collected facial recognition data and other information on the general public. I feel that my privacy would be impaired if a robot collected information about my whereabouts or physical appearance. I’m hopeful that these RoboCops will ease traffic issues or vehicular accidents (especially in downtown Atlanta) so police officers can focus on larger more pertinent crimes.
Yea, this is a weird concept. Im not sure how I feel about it but the blog explained it well. I think the benefits are there, but I like humans’ discretion and humanity, especially in complex situations. Implementing robots with minor traffic violations and cameras and stuff works I believe, like stop lights with cameras but having a full robot doing patrols is probably not it.
I *hope* you have at least watched the excellent 1980s movie with that title – Robocop. It’s a great parody of what people want robotic policing to become. I’m actually working on a project with another UGA faculty now which looks at how Body Worn Cameras affect policing. It’s pretty cool.
The funny thing is I actually watched that movie earlier this month! I know I have seen it before but watching that movie mixed with seeing lots of videos on Twitter of new advancements in robots made me want to do more research. I also know that the military has been using drones to take out terrorists in some cases as well. It makes me wonder if in the next 50 years will wars even be fought by people anymore.
Hey Chase, great blog post! I did a similar blog about the use of AI in the criminal justice industry a while back. I like the idea of robot cops and feel like they could be used to help lower crime in areas with little to no cameras. I feel like if you were being attacked and then running the robot cop could easily notify authorities to come to the area. Although it’s not full proof, I believe it could help underdeveloped areas with lots of crime.
Hi Chase, great post! I really liked your inclusion of examples with stats, I had no idea that communities could cut crime between 30 to 40% just by using AI. I know it may be hard to implement, but, the benefits seem as if they are better than the costs!
The RoboCops are cool and also pretty scary at the same time, I have no idea what I would do if I saw someone getting shot by a robot flying in the air. I feel as though this will become more popular in the far future with improvements. But, I do agree with you, that they shouldn’t have any lethal power. I mean, it is a robot at the end of the day, and usually can not sense or understand emotions or situations that well (for now).
Hi Chase, this was an interesting read! I knew that AI definitely has had a large helping hand in the crime field, but I never knew how exactly it worked. Its great how these technologies have been used to cut crime rates and emergency response times, I’m interested to see how it continues to develop.
Hey Chase! This was an excellent blog post to read! i think it is interesting to read through some of the statistics that you shared as I had no idea that AI could offer such valuable ways of cutting crime as you mentioned. I wonder if police forces will be open to the idea or will they feel more comfortable adhering to traditional ways.