One Maine Sheriff's Department Could Soon Start Using A.I.

Even though I love technology, sometimes it feels like the world is advancing too fast.

Twenty years ago the smartest phone we had was a Blackberry, digital cameras were massive (and took crappy-looking photos), and all we knew about artificial intelligence came from watching 2001: A Space Odyssey or The Terminator.

Now, artificial intelligence is everywhere, including in our phones!

It looks like artificial intelligence could soon be aiding one of Maine’s law enforcement agencies.

According to an article on the KJ website, the Somerset County Sheriff’s Department is looking into adding AI-enabled body cameras.

The article explains that, on Wednesday, the county’s Board of Commissioners voted to give Sheriff Dale Lancaster the go-ahead to explore a contract with bodycam manufacturer Axon.

The okay was given following an August 21^st presentation by Axon, the maker of the body cameras.

It is hoped that these devices will help ease the workload on the department’s staff. In seconds, the cameras will be able to provide deputies with a rough draft of a police report that is based on what the camera has seen & heard. The deputy can then edit the document and add additional details.

The feature, which is available on the Axon Body 4, is called Draft One.

The website says the feature:

force multiplies agencies and saves officers multiple hours every week by automatically drafting police report narratives based on body-worn camera audio.

In the wake of the closure of several Maine law enforcement agencies due to lack of available staff, working as efficiently as possible has become even more important.

There is no timeframe on when the cameras would be fully implemented.