by AI is transforming industries, enabling sustainable food production, and discovering new asteroids, but its potential to improve public safety and high-pressure situations remains uncertain.
AI can provide real-time information to law enforcement and firefighters, enabling efficient decision-making without overload. Early examples of AI tools are already in use in the field, demonstrating their potential to enhance critical services.
AI as a Decision-Making Data Partner
AI is a promising solution for emergency services, as it can efficiently capture and act on data, reducing data overload. A recent report in the UK revealed that 86% of residents desire increased police presence on the streets, a common call-out for most countries.
88% of law enforcement workers express frustration with the lack of information, particularly switching between applications, which affects efficiency in policing. However, 90% of agencies support AI for improving police efficiency, a 55% increase from last year’s survey.
Matthew Polega, co-founder and president of Mark43, has criticized the limitations of legacy tech in policing. Mark43, a company working with 290 public safety agencies, uses AI platforms to determine information sharing and timing, addressing the limitations of traditional police systems.
Polega argues that police officers need real-time data sharing to solve crimes effectively, as they don’t need information from two days ago. He believes that real-time data sharing can be a game changer and that police forces should work together to solve crimes, rather than relying on legacy systems like Netflix or Spotify.
The implementation of new systems for managing witness, victim, and minors’ names may cause some to be nervous, especially given the numerous reports of government agencies’ information being hacked online. However, most incidents occur from on-premises systems.
AI in Law Enforcement Can Only Go So Far
The AP4AI project reveals that while 87% of people worldwide support AI for protecting vulnerable groups and detecting criminals, 90% expect police to be held accountable for their use and its consequences, highlighting the need for transparency, explanation, and ethical use of AI systems to maintain public trust.
AI for predictive policing, a method that predicts future criminal behavior using data-driven methods, raises ethical concerns about profiling individuals based on their characteristics or historical data, rather than evidence of intent, a concept often compared to Philip K. Dick’s Minority Report.
The potential for untargeted facial image scraping and facial recognition databases could pose a significant threat in the future. Although the EU AI Act bans predictive policing, concerns persist about its effectiveness. If AI is not used for future prediction, it could potentially reduce paperwork.
Administration & AI in Policing
Panasonic Connect’s sensors and AI monitors can help law enforcement agencies anticipate administrative issues like worker fatigue and equipment failure, rather than criminal ones, in high-pressure scenarios like disaster response. This not only reduces time spent on reports but also enables smarter decision-making.
Sensors can use predictive analytics to monitor heart rates, fatigue, and eye drooping, preventing unsafe situations before they escalate. Panasonic Connect North America’s Vice President of Mobility, Dominick Passanante, emphasizes proactive maintenance of critical infrastructure and AI’s potential to save seconds in public safety.
Mission-critical workers often face constant data from various sources, but it’s crucial to capture and act on this information. AI helps first responders and utility workers reduce paperwork and allocate more time to their most critical tasks.
The Bottom Line
AI can significantly enhance policing by analyzing body-worn camera footage, writing the first report from a scene instantly, connecting police forces without information overload, and monitoring the environment while officers focus on the problems that are in front of them.
Transparency and focus on AI’s purpose, whether predicting risks or automating routine tasks, can build trust between AI, first responders, and their communities if handled correctly.
