By Clearview AI BLOG
Last week, Clearview AI had a significant presence at the annual International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) conference in Boston, MA. Throughout the event, Clearview AI team members spoke with law enforcement command staff and line-level officers about their challenges with community safety, officer wellness and the adoption of new technologies. In addition, our team interacted with other vendors in the Exhibit Hall and learned about shifts in technology innovation and adoption. Below are a few of the main insights we gained while at the conference:
INSIGHT #1:
AI Adoption is Increasing in Law Enforcement
This was the first year that Clearview AI staff members noticed a significant increase in the number of vendors at the IACP conference that used the term “AI” in their solution and/or company description. A few years ago, companies were hesitant to showcase AI due to concerns from the law enforcement community. At this year’s IACP conference, the number of companies integrating a form of AI into their platform or solution outpaced companies that do not integrate this innovation. Command staff are noticing this shift.
The adoption of AI by law enforcement is keeping pace. More command staff are beginning to embrace AI as a force multiplier, as agencies continue to deal with staffing shortages and budget restrictions. From its use in real-time crime centers, report writing, to ballistics, AI is here to stay. Chiefs are recognizing the need to embrace it to save staff hours, create efficiencies and close more cases. There were several sessions on AI technology for law enforcement, all of which carried a message that humans must remain “in the loop” to ensure that critical decisions are made by the officer.
Command staff also recognize that as AI becomes more readily available in other applications, threat actors are becoming adept at using it to commit crimes. Because of this, Chiefs acknowledge the need for investigators and analytical staff to have tools and training on how AI can be used to manipulate and circumvent traditional investigative methods. With more knowledge and access to solutions that use AI, law enforcement can stay a step ahead of threat actors who use it for nefarious purposes.
INSIGHT #2:
Leaders are More Open to Facial Recognition Technology
Over the last few years, command staff attending the IACP conference often questioned whether their city or county councils would adopt and embrace facial recognition technology due to legal and ethical concerns. For years, Chiefs have seen the value of this technology and often commented on their inability to have it approved for use by government officials. Most Chiefs want to integrate facial recognition technology into their investigative units. They see the value and the power of searching open-source images to develop leads in cases, especially when investigators have hit a dead end in their investigations.
As more successes are promoted in the media and the law enforcement community, we expect to see more state and local governments embrace facial recognition technology to help identify trafficking victims, missing persons, and persons of interest in a criminal investigation. Agencies that want to use facial recognition technology must plan to evaluate vendors, effectively train users, develop a policy on the usage of the technology, and address concerns raised by the community. Agencies can be confident that, with clear communication and solid preparation, any public concerns can be adequately addressed and the public will see the value of facial recognition technology as an investigative force multiplier. Without a solid facial recognition program, we will continue to see law enforcement struggle with adoption for this technology in their state, county or city.
INSIGHT #3:
Chiefs Continue to Look for Innovative Ways to Address Officer Wellness
Officer wellness and mental health issues have gained prominence in discussions at the IACP conference over the years. Law enforcement officers face unique mental health challenges driven by repeated exposure to trauma, chronic high-stress situations, irregular hours, and public scrutiny. Combined with more recent efforts to defund the police and an increase in retirements, Chiefs are anxious to find programs to educate their officers on issues like suicide prevention, heart health, and PTSD, as well as ways to support their overall health and wellness.
This year, we saw an inspiring surge in companies actively partnering with and championing nonprofits dedicated to officer wellness. From mental health to overall well-being, organizations - especially technology companies - are stepping up with tangible support and innovation, demonstrating a shared commitment to strengthening officers and their departments.
INSIGHT #4:
Digital Evidence is Central to Modern Investigations
Throughout the IACP conference, command staff emphasized the critical role of digital evidence, especially images and videos featuring faces, in nearly every investigation. Agencies face growing challenges in verifying the authenticity of visual evidence, analyzing faces, and extracting valuable metadata from a range of sources, including security cameras, online platforms, and personal devices.
As the digital landscape evolves, the demand for comprehensive tools that can effectively integrate facial data and analysis into investigative workflows will continue to expand. With more vendors entering this space, law enforcement can expect enhanced integration capabilities.
INSIGHT #5:
Technology Partnership and Integrations are a Key to Law Enforcement Success
This year, it was evident that the IACP conference continues to grow in the number of technology vendors present on the Exhibit Hall floor. Years ago, the IACP exhibit area was dominated by police cars, guns and uniform companies, along with the radio and RMS companies. Smaller niche technology vendors rarely had a presence on the Exhibit Hall floor. Today, however, the majority of booths are technology-focused, with many featuring integrations and partnerships with other vendors that provide attendees with end-to-end solutions through these collaborations.
Why does this matter? Because companies realize that law enforcement officers need interoperable solutions. When responding to a call or investigating a major event, officers and detectives don’t have time to open multiple programs, remember different logins or pull together information manually. They need solutions that seamlessly work together.
Back at the 2008 IACP conference in San Diego, a major topic was interoperability as it related to CAD-to-CAD systems and support during major events. 9/11 was still a recent memory and agencies were grappling with communication and information-sharing challenges. Today, many technology companies attending IACP offer integrated solutions and APIs to connect with other systems. These partnerships are promoted as a value-add, recognizing that integration is essential for rapid response, officer safety, and effective crime reduction strategies.
LOOKING FORWARD TO IACP 2025 IN DENVER
As we look ahead to the 2025 IACP conference in Denver, we are excited for what the next twelve months have in store for both police technology and Clearview AI. We know that facial recognition technology adoption will continue as companies innovate and partner with one another. And as we evolve in our technology, we will continue to support one of the most important missions in the world: to bring victims home and uphold justice.
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