From Taser to AI: Rick Smith’s Vision for Public Safety
Rick Smith, founder and CEO of Axon, opened his speech at AI Week with a thought-provoking question: “How do we want to leave the world to our children?” This simple yet powerful inquiry underscores the central issue in the discussion of artificial intelligence in public safety – it’s not just about what we can do, but what we must do.
Smith’s journey in transforming public safety began with the creation of the taser, a non-lethal weapon designed to stop without killing. However, his vision didn’t stop there. Today, he leads Axon, one of the most advanced companies in intelligent surveillance, policing technology, and ethical AI. The company’s goal is to build a technological ecosystem that increases safety, reduces bureaucracy, and defends privacy, always keeping the human being at the center.
The Evolution of Public Safety Technology
The concept of making firearms obsolete led to the development of the taser. Recognizing that introducing new tools in policing also brings new responsibilities, Axon later introduced bodycams – small cameras worn by officers to document interventions, prevent abuse, and increase public trust. Today, Axon has expanded its offerings to include:
- Bodycams with advanced computational power
- Drones and anti-drone systems
- Virtual reality for training
- Platforms for real-time video sharing with police
- AI systems to streamline processes and enhance operational effectiveness
The Power of AI in Public Safety
During his speech, Smith presented “the most important graph of his life” – an exponential curve illustrating the rapid growth of computing power. He highlighted that a simple smart ring now has more power than six Cray supercomputers from the 1970s, and an Axon bodycam integrates the equivalent of 20,000 Crays. The evolution of AI is even more striking, improving 100 times annually according to OpenAI data.
Human-Centric AI Approach
For Axon, AI must empower humans rather than replace them. To guide this approach, Smith announced the AI Pact, a public commitment to 15 fundamental principles for responsible AI development. Key principles include:
- Automation of low-risk activities
- Human control over critical decisions
- Rigorous testing to avoid bias
- Maximum transparency in technology use, especially in the public sector
Practical Applications: AI in Reporting
A concrete example of Axon’s human-centric AI approach is automatic reporting. Their AI can transcribe and structure police reports in seconds, even from audio with strong accents or in noisy environments. This innovation saves officers up to 50% of their time on bureaucratic tasks, allowing them to focus more on patrolling and interacting with citizens.
Intelligent Surveillance with Privacy Guarantees
Axon proposes selective and intelligent surveillance that respects privacy. Their system:
- Activates facial recognition only for flagged subjects
- Analyzes data “on the edge” without centralized storage
- Sends alerts only for suspicious events
- Tracks all human access to data for transparency
The Future: Robots and Drones under Human Control
The next frontier in public safety is intelligent robots and drones, always under human control. Axon envisions a future where:
- Robots don’t make autonomous decisions
- Critical interventions are approved in real-time by humans or civil rights experts
- Robots never use lethal force
- Monitoring occurs live with the ability to stop or redirect actions
Building a Future with Ethics in Mind
Smith emphasizes that while technology evolves, principles remain constant. The real challenge is not innovation, but responsibility. Axon’s human-centric and transparent approach positions it as a global model for the ethical use of AI in public safety. The guiding question remains: “What kind of world do we want to leave to our children?”
To delve deeper into the technological context and innovations in AI, you can explore related news and analysis on cryptocurrencies, blockchain, and decentralized finance. Understanding the regulatory and political implications is also crucial, as seen in discussions around stablecoin legislation. The integration of AI in various sectors, such as cinema, further highlights its vast potential.
