Police body cameras could be about to get an AI upgrade
One of the biggest manufacturers of technology for law enforcement says AI-powered tools are essential for fighting crime in the 21st century.
Details: According to the Washington Post, Axon, which makes the wearable body cameras used by many police departments in the US, is looking into adding AI to its portfolio, starting with facial recognition for its cameras.
But: An open letter signed by groups like the ACLU, the NAACP, and AI Now argues that police departments have a documented history of racial bias, and technology could exacerbate the problem if it’s not carefully designed.
Counter: Rick Smith, Axon’s chief executive, says the company knows the risks and has convened an ethics board made up of law enforcement officers, civil rights activists, and AI experts to help guide the tech’s development. Still, he says, it is “both naive and counterproductive” to suggest police shouldn’t have access to this type of technology.
Deep Dive
Artificial intelligence
Large language models can do jaw-dropping things. But nobody knows exactly why.
And that's a problem. Figuring it out is one of the biggest scientific puzzles of our time and a crucial step towards controlling more powerful future models.
OpenAI teases an amazing new generative video model called Sora
The firm is sharing Sora with a small group of safety testers but the rest of us will have to wait to learn more.
Google’s Gemini is now in everything. Here’s how you can try it out.
Gmail, Docs, and more will now come with Gemini baked in. But Europeans will have to wait before they can download the app.
Google DeepMind’s new generative model makes Super Mario–like games from scratch
Genie learns how to control games by watching hours and hours of video. It could help train next-gen robots too.
Stay connected
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.