At the IACP conference, 600 companies presented technologies for the US police.
A large-scale conference of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), held in Boston, clearly demonstrated that the future of law enforcement is inextricably linked to artificial intelligence. A clear message was sent to the heads of US police departments that the introduction of AI can no longer be delayed.
At the exhibition, which brought together more than 600 supplier companies, artificial intelligence became the main center of attraction. In addition to traditional police equipment - bulletproof vests, rifles and special gloves - the participants were presented with three key areas of AI application in law enforcement.
The greatest excitement was caused by virtual reality systems for training officers. V-Armed, which recently installed its equipment at the Los Angeles Police Headquarters, has deployed an entire arena with VR glasses, cameras and sensors at the exhibition. Participants could undergo training exercises to respond to situations with active shooting. Representatives of the company emphasize the advantages of virtual training: it is not only cost-effective in the long term, but also allows you to achieve better results due to a deeper involvement of students in the process.
However, the effectiveness of VR systems has yet to be thoroughly studied. Artificial intelligence cannot yet fully reproduce the intricacies of interaction between police officers and the population. Some systems for training conflict de-escalation skills suffer from delays and unnatural dialogues – the responses of virtual characters look over-programmed.
The second important area was the collection and analysis of data. Police departments are increasingly moving away from siloed solutions in favor of integrated systems that integrate sensors, cameras, and other equipment. Executives attended special seminars where Microsoft and the NYPD shared their experiences in using the Domain Awareness system, a network of cameras, license plate readers, and other data sources to track crime. Human rights activists criticize such tools, considering them a violation of privacy that does not bring real benefits to society.
The third area is the use of AI for routine administrative work. Companies offer generative systems to assist officers in reporting. For example, Axon's Draft One solution analyzes body camera recordings, transcribes them, and creates a draft report. According to the developers, the use of data from chest cameras greatly simplifies the work of officers on documentation.
However, the use of AI to write police reports raises serious concerns among experts. Legal experts note that police reports are often the only official document describing an incident. In conditions where criminal cases can be considered for months or even years, the accuracy of these documents is critical. Even small inaccuracies in details can affect court decisions - from determining the amount of bail to the final verdict.
The main conclusion of the conference is that the introduction of AI into the work of the American police is chaotic. There is no single body that regulates the use of these technologies, and about 18,000 U.S. police departments have a high degree of autonomy in the choice of tools. Software companies are creating solutions that appeal to the police, but it remains unclear who will set the necessary boundaries for ethics, confidentiality and accuracy.
The situation may become more complicated with the next administration. In his election program, Donald Trump advocated more aggressive law enforcement tactics, including the practice of "stop and search", increased cooperation with immigration services and increased protection of officers from accusations of misconduct. The Biden administration is now trying to secure some proposed police reforms until January.
In the absence of federal regulation of the use of AI by police departments, the boundaries will be set by the departments and technology companies themselves. Analysts note that technology developers, being commercial organizations, focus primarily on the needs of their clients – law enforcement agencies, and only serious risks to their business model can force them to change this approach.
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A large-scale conference of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), held in Boston, clearly demonstrated that the future of law enforcement is inextricably linked to artificial intelligence. A clear message was sent to the heads of US police departments that the introduction of AI can no longer be delayed.
At the exhibition, which brought together more than 600 supplier companies, artificial intelligence became the main center of attraction. In addition to traditional police equipment - bulletproof vests, rifles and special gloves - the participants were presented with three key areas of AI application in law enforcement.
The greatest excitement was caused by virtual reality systems for training officers. V-Armed, which recently installed its equipment at the Los Angeles Police Headquarters, has deployed an entire arena with VR glasses, cameras and sensors at the exhibition. Participants could undergo training exercises to respond to situations with active shooting. Representatives of the company emphasize the advantages of virtual training: it is not only cost-effective in the long term, but also allows you to achieve better results due to a deeper involvement of students in the process.
However, the effectiveness of VR systems has yet to be thoroughly studied. Artificial intelligence cannot yet fully reproduce the intricacies of interaction between police officers and the population. Some systems for training conflict de-escalation skills suffer from delays and unnatural dialogues – the responses of virtual characters look over-programmed.
The second important area was the collection and analysis of data. Police departments are increasingly moving away from siloed solutions in favor of integrated systems that integrate sensors, cameras, and other equipment. Executives attended special seminars where Microsoft and the NYPD shared their experiences in using the Domain Awareness system, a network of cameras, license plate readers, and other data sources to track crime. Human rights activists criticize such tools, considering them a violation of privacy that does not bring real benefits to society.
The third area is the use of AI for routine administrative work. Companies offer generative systems to assist officers in reporting. For example, Axon's Draft One solution analyzes body camera recordings, transcribes them, and creates a draft report. According to the developers, the use of data from chest cameras greatly simplifies the work of officers on documentation.
However, the use of AI to write police reports raises serious concerns among experts. Legal experts note that police reports are often the only official document describing an incident. In conditions where criminal cases can be considered for months or even years, the accuracy of these documents is critical. Even small inaccuracies in details can affect court decisions - from determining the amount of bail to the final verdict.
The main conclusion of the conference is that the introduction of AI into the work of the American police is chaotic. There is no single body that regulates the use of these technologies, and about 18,000 U.S. police departments have a high degree of autonomy in the choice of tools. Software companies are creating solutions that appeal to the police, but it remains unclear who will set the necessary boundaries for ethics, confidentiality and accuracy.
The situation may become more complicated with the next administration. In his election program, Donald Trump advocated more aggressive law enforcement tactics, including the practice of "stop and search", increased cooperation with immigration services and increased protection of officers from accusations of misconduct. The Biden administration is now trying to secure some proposed police reforms until January.
In the absence of federal regulation of the use of AI by police departments, the boundaries will be set by the departments and technology companies themselves. Analysts note that technology developers, being commercial organizations, focus primarily on the needs of their clients – law enforcement agencies, and only serious risks to their business model can force them to change this approach.
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