Who polices the police AI? Perplexity's public safety deal alarms experts - here's why (www.zdnet.com)

Perplexity, an AI startup, has launched "Perplexity for Public Safety Organizations," providing police with a year of free access to its AI tools aimed at enhancing decision-making and automating tasks such as crime scene analysis and report generation. While the initiative seeks to improve efficiency in law enforcement, experts warn about the potential dangers of using AI in sensitive contexts. The inherent flaws of AI, such as hallucination and bias, mean that seemingly minor inaccuracies can lead to serious consequences, particularly in legal scenarios. Concerns are raised about how everyday tasks in policing can result in significant impacts on individuals' lives. As AI tools proliferate in law enforcement, questions of accountability arise. Experts argue that responsibility for ensuring ethical use of AI should either lie with police departments themselves or policymakers, who currently lack robust regulatory frameworks. The push for AI adoption in law enforcement reflects a broader trend where police departments often become early adopters of new technologies, which could exacerbate issues like bias present in historical predictive policing algorithms. With Perplexity's program being the first of its kind, it is likely that competitors will follow suit, intensifying the need for guidelines and oversight in AI applications within public safety.