Oklahoma City Police Experiment with AI-Generated Incident Reports

Oklahoma City’s police department is testing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots to generate the first drafts of incident reports. The AI tool, known as Draft One and developed by Axon, uses data from body camera microphones to quickly produce accurate reports. The technology has received positive feedback from officers, who appreciate the time-saving aspect. However, concerns have been raised by prosecutors, police watchdogs, and legal scholars regarding the potential impact on the criminal justice system.

Axon, best known for creating the Taser and supplying body cameras to law enforcement agencies across the United States, believes that Draft One could revolutionize police work. The company’s CEO, Rick Smith, acknowledges the concerns raised by district attorneys who want to ensure that officers take responsibility for their reports, especially when they may need to testify in court.

While AI technology has been adopted by police agencies for various purposes, the use of AI-generated incident reports is relatively new, and there are currently no established guidelines governing their use. This has sparked concerns about potential biases and prejudices being embedded in the technology. Community activist aurelius francisco, co-founder of the Foundation for Liberating Minds in Oklahoma City, finds the tool troubling, suggesting that it could facilitate harassment and violence against marginalized communities.

Before implementing the AI tool, Oklahoma City police officials consulted local prosecutors, who advised caution when using it for high-stakes criminal cases. Currently, the tool is only used for minor incident reports that do not result in arrests or involve violent crimes. However, in Lafayette, Indiana, Police Chief Scott Galloway reports that all officers can use Draft One for any type of case, and it has been well-received since its pilot launch earlier this year. Similarly, in Fort Collins, Colorado, officers are free to use the tool for any report, except in the city’s downtown bar district due to excessive noise.

Axon initially experimented with computer vision technology to summarize video footage but decided to focus solely on audio due to concerns about racial biases and insensitivity. The AI model used in Draft One is based on the same technology as ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI. Axon has access to additional controls to ensure factual accuracy and prevent the generation of false information.

Legal scholar Andrew Ferguson highlights the potential risks associated with AI-generated reports, including the possibility of false information being included without notice. He emphasizes the importance of police reports in determining the justification for someone’s loss of liberty and calls for a public discussion on the benefits and potential harms of this emerging technology.

As the use of AI-generated incident reports gains traction, officers are adapting their approach to reporting crimes. They are now providing more detailed verbal descriptions to ensure accurate capture by body cameras. Captain Jason Bussert, responsible for information technology in the Oklahoma City Police Department, expects officers to become increasingly vocal in describing their observations.

The AI-generated reports are produced within seconds and closely resemble narratives officers would have written based on their notes. Officers must indicate that the report was generated with the assistance of AI. The adoption of this technology is expected to increase in the coming months and years, given Axon’s strong relationship with law enforcement agencies as a supplier of Tasers and body cameras.

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