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AI isn’t just for your phone nagging you about “10,000 steps” or suggesting cat videos you didn’t ask for. It’s here, it’s everywhere, and—spoiler alert—it’s creeping into Public Safety faster than you can say “ChatGPT wrote this.” But don’t panic—this isn’t Skynet… yet. Let’s talk about what’s real, what’s useful, and why you might actually be glad AI is watching when things go wrong.
Today, we’ll discuss AI in Public Safety: where it’s making a difference, where it might just be hype, and why ignoring it could be like playing Frogger blindfolded.
AI IS EVERYWHERE
Let’s be honest: AI has gone from a nerdy research project to being part of almost everything. A common example? Your Netflix “Because you watched Tiger King” suggestions. An innovative example? AI is diagnosing cancer earlier than most doctors. An off-the-wall example? AI writing new songs that sound suspiciously like Elvis covering Beyoncé.
So, what about Public Safety?
TRIAGE THE NOISE – SAVE THE HUMANS
Here’s a tough truth: most 911 calls aren’t life-or-death emergencies. Lost pets, noise complaints, “My neighbor’s lawn gnome is staring at me”—dispatchers hear it all. AI can screen, sort, and even answer some of these low-level calls, freeing human call takers for the stuff that really matters—like saving lives. It’s like having an always-on rookie that wants to take the boring stuff.
CITIZEN ENABLEMENT = BETTER GOVERNMENT
One of the most powerful uses of AI is in citizen self-service. Think of it as “self-checkout” but without the broken scanner and that one employee glaring at you because you forgot to bag your kale. AI-driven tools let citizens handle nonemergency requests—like pothole reports, permit questions, or lost & found—without tying up Public Safety lines. That means happier citizens, happier dispatchers, and maybe even fewer gray hairs all around.
NETWORKS: NOT JUST IT ANYMORE
Sure, AI can monitor your IT network for spikes, outages, or shady traffic. But zoom out: governments run tons of networks. Transportation is a big one—roads, trains, buses, you name it. Think of highways as “data pipes” and cars as “packets.” If there’s a jam, AI can reroute, predict slowdowns, and suggest detours before gridlock happens.
Example: turnstiles at a subway station reporting real-time passenger flow. AI sees that one station is jammed while the next is empty and suggests changes. That’s smarter, safer commuting without someone in a control room manually moving pieces around like a giant chessboard.
SEEING THE UNSEEN
Video analytics is another AI superpower. No human can realistically monitor thousands of cameras 24/7. AI can. Fires, fights, suspicious loitering—it can spot anomalies instantly.
Even better: object tracking. Say a backpack sits unattended on a bench for 20 minutes. AI doesn’t just flag it; it rewinds the tape, identifies the dropper, and tracks their path through the system. That’s basically Minority Report without Tom Cruise sprinting.
A NEW INDUSTRY PLAYER: THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT
Back in the day, you had “silo vendors” who made one thing well. Then came “system integrators,” who duct-taped everything together. Today, it’s about subject matter experts (SMEs). They don’t just piece together tech—they design and validate solutions with Public Safety in mind. SMEs ask the uncomfortable but vital questions:
- Why is reporting critical data optional during emergencies?
- Why isn’t life safety baked into every product as table stakes?
- Why are we treating lifesaving capabilities as “add-ons” instead of baselines?
Short answer: we shouldn’t, and in many cases (thanks to laws like Kari’s Law, RAY BAUM’S Act, and Alyssa’s Law), we legally can’t anymore.
BACK TO SCHOOL: COMPLIANCE 101
If you’re a company deploying tech in public or enterprise spaces, here’s your homework:
- KARI’S LAW: Direct 911 dialing, no dialing “9” first.
- RAY BAUM’S Act: Dispatchable location with every call.
- ALYSSA’S LAW: Panic buttons in schools for faster law enforcement response.
These aren’t optional “nice to haves.” They’re federal mandates. Ignore them, and you’re not just failing the test—you’re risking lives.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
AI is NOT about replacing people – ESPECIALLY Public Safety. It’s about removing noise, automating the predictable, and supercharging human decision-making when seconds count the most. The future isn’t robots patrolling your streets—it’s AI helping the professionals already out there keeping us safe, and doing their jobs better, faster, and smarter.
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Thanks for spending time with me; I look forward to next time. Stay safe and take care.
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