While Steven Spielberg’s 2001 movie A.I. Artificial Intelligence may have offered an early glimpse at what was to come, for many people, artificial intelligence (AI) has entered public life more rapidly than society imagined.

In April 2026, a National University report, AI Statistics and Trends for 2026, found that the AI market size is expected to grow by at least 120 percent year over year and that AI is projected to contribute $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030.¹ While these numbers may not be surprising, they demonstrate just how ingrained AI is becoming in society.

Despite the common narrative that policing is traditional and perhaps even slightly resistant to change, public safety agencies have frequently demonstrated their ability to adapt to changes in technology. From car radios to in-car computers and body-worn cameras, police continually adopt new tools to make their jobs more efficient and effective.

In fact, police agencies have used data-driven and automated tools from automated license plate readers to predictive policing models and video analytics for the past several years. What is now changing is the speed, scope, and complexity of those tools.² So, while AI may be the next transformational shift, and one that’s moving full steam ahead, the question for police leaders remains deeply familiar. How do the police preserve public trust while adapting to significant societal change?

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