Recent artificial intelligence (AI) development has set off alarm bells in government circles and among the public. Police officials are now confronted with the need to better understand and manage AI in their own operations and IT systems. The police profession’s use of information processing solutions empowered by algorithms—and their gradual replacement by more advanced AI—is not a new phenomenon. Solutions like facial recognition software, automated license plate recognition systems, and predictive policing tools based on pattern analysis have been in place for years. Most of the uses of AI thus far have been without significant government regulation or oversight, but that may be changing.

The year 2023 saw a growth of government attention to the use and management of AI. Police leaders need to understand both the recent developments in AI and the efforts of governments around the globe to address the threats that AI may pose. Those threats include the potential risks to civil liberties and privacy, as well as human rights, occasioned by government use of AI. Officials are also challenged by a growing criminal use of AI. Understanding the change of government focus on AI control can help guide police agencies in their AI use.