The Rise of A.I. Is Raising Threats From Drones, Police Group Warns

A research group that studies policing is warning that drones are becoming a growing danger to cities and towns across the United States. The group, called the Police Executive Research Forum, released a report saying that drones are getting cheaper and easier to buy. At the same time, artificial intelligence — computer technology that can make decisions on its own — is making drones smarter and more dangerous. Together, these two trends could create serious threats to public safety.

The report is called 'A Clear and Present Danger.' It says that while no major drone attacks have happened inside the United States yet, the risk is growing fast. Drones that are easier to get and cheaper to buy could be used to cause chaos or harm, especially if they are paired with A.I. technology. The group says that law enforcement needs to take this threat as seriously as terrorism.

One sign of how common illegal drones have become is what happens at big events. In New York City alone, about 23,000 illegal drone flights are reported every month. During the World Cup this summer, hundreds of drones were seized near game sites across the country. Drones have even been spotted flying over football stadiums on game days.

Chuck Wexler, the head of the police research group, compared the current situation to the period before the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He wrote in the report that 25 years ago, the country 'paid a terrible price for a failure of imagination.' He said the country cannot afford to make the same mistake again by ignoring the drone threat.

The dangers of drones are not just a worry in the United States. In Ukraine, officials said a Russian drone guided by A.I. crashed into a wall, exploded, and killed three people. Ukraine has also said that Russia is testing drones that can choose their own targets without a human controlling them. The U.S. military has also used low-cost drones in conflicts overseas, showing how useful — and dangerous — the technology can be.

Jessica Tisch, the top police official in New York City, said drones are her biggest concern. 'If there is one threat that keeps me up at night, it is from drones,' she said at a news conference in May. She warned that regular commercial drones can be changed into weapons, which is a serious problem for a busy city like New York.

For a long time, local police did not have the power or tools to stop unauthorized drones. That changed recently when Congress passed a law called the Safer Skies Act in December. The law gives local governments permission to disable or bring down drones that are a danger to the public. Last month, the New York Police Department got federal approval under this law to take down unauthorized drones during major events.

The FBI also opened a new training center in Huntsville, Alabama, called the National Counter-UAS Training Center. Officers from around the country can go there to learn how to deal with drone threats. Before this center opened, many local police officers didn't have the right training or equipment to handle drones on their own.

There is also a national security concern tied to drones. Most drones used by police and public safety workers in the United States are made in China. The government has tried to limit some foreign-made drones, but many still enter the country under different brand names. Experts say this makes the technology a risk not just to public safety, but also to national security.

Sean Patterson, the police chief at the University of Tennessee, visited Ukraine last year and said the trip changed how he thinks about drones. He served in the New York Police Department for 22 years and was a rookie officer on September 11, 2001. After seeing how drones are used in war, he said police leaders at schools and large venues need to start thinking about this threat right away. More than 103,000 people attend football games on his campus.