From Time-Saving to Ethical Considerations: The Controversial Use of Draft One in Police Reporting

A new technology called Draft One is changing the way police reports are created in the United States. This artificial intelligence model, powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4 Turbo model, transcribes audio from police body cameras into detailed reports automatically. Developed by Axon, a leading technology solutions company for law enforcement, this innovation has been shown to save time for police officers, with one department seeing an 82% decrease in report writing time.

Despite its potential benefits, there are concerns about the use of Draft One as evidence in criminal trials. Critics worry about the AI’s ability to interpret language accurately, particularly in instances where racial biases may come into play. Dave Maass from the Electronic Frontier Foundation highlighted these concerns, emphasizing the potential impact on people’s interactions with the criminal justice system.

Axon CEO Rick Smith acknowledges these concerns and recommends that Draft One not be used for serious incidents such as police shootings. However, some police departments are already using the tool for minor crimes and other significant incidents. Axon does not have control over how individual departments choose to use the technology but is advocating for its responsible use.

While Draft One has the potential to streamline police reporting processes and improve efficiency, it is important to consider ethical considerations when using this technology in law enforcement. It is crucial to ensure that this technology is used fairly and unbiasedly to avoid any negative consequences on people’s interactions with the criminal justice system.

In conclusion, while Draft One offers several benefits such as saving time for police officers and improving efficiency in police reporting processes, it is important to ensure that its use is ethical and unbiased when used as evidence in criminal trials or any other significant legal proceedings.