NYC subway assessments AI surveillance to spice up safety whereas addressing privateness

[ad_1] Think about having a tireless guardian watching over you throughout your subway commute. It notices each element with regular focus, all with one objective in thoughts: retaining you secure on the subway.

New York City's subway system is testing artificial intelligence to spice up safety and cut back crime. Michael Kemper, a 33-year NYPD veteran and the chief safety officer for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which is the most important transit company in the US, is main the rollout of AI software program designed to identify suspicious conduct because it occurs.

The MTA says this expertise represents the way forward for subway surveillance and reassures riders that privateness considerations are being taken significantly.

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<source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/343/192/01-ai-to-monitor-nyc-subway-safety-as-crime-concerns-rise-subway.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/686/384/01-ai-to-monitor-nyc-subway-safety-as-crime-concerns-rise-subway.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="192" width="343"><source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/672/378/01-ai-to-monitor-nyc-subway-safety-as-crime-concerns-rise-subway.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/1344/756/01-ai-to-monitor-nyc-subway-safety-as-crime-concerns-rise-subway.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/931/523/01-ai-to-monitor-nyc-subway-safety-as-crime-concerns-rise-subway.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/1862/1046/01-ai-to-monitor-nyc-subway-safety-as-crime-concerns-rise-subway.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"><source media="(min-width: 1280px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/720/405/01-ai-to-monitor-nyc-subway-safety-as-crime-concerns-rise-subway.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/1440/810/01-ai-to-monitor-nyc-subway-safety-as-crime-concerns-rise-subway.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="405" width="720"> New York Metropolis subway (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

How AI surveillance will work within the New York Metropolis Subway The AI system will analyze real-time digicam feeds throughout subway platforms and practice automobiles to detect uncommon or probably harmful behaviors. As an alternative of figuring out people, the expertise focuses on conduct patterns which may sign hassle, reminiscent of erratic actions or confrontations. When the AI flags one thing suspicious, it may alert transit police to reply shortly, which might assist stop crimes earlier than they escalate.

At present, about 40% of subway cameras are monitored dwell by employees. The AI goals to broaden this protection without having further personnel, which might improve security throughout the system. Whereas particulars concerning the AI suppliers and full deployment timelines haven't been shared, the MTA emphasizes that facial recognition expertise is not going to be a part of this method. That is supposed to guard rider privateness.

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<source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/343/192/02-ai-to-monitor-nyc-subway-safety-as-crime-concerns-rise-security.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/686/384/02-ai-to-monitor-nyc-subway-safety-as-crime-concerns-rise-security.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="192" width="343"><source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/672/378/02-ai-to-monitor-nyc-subway-safety-as-crime-concerns-rise-security.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/1344/756/02-ai-to-monitor-nyc-subway-safety-as-crime-concerns-rise-security.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/931/523/02-ai-to-monitor-nyc-subway-safety-as-crime-concerns-rise-security.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/1862/1046/02-ai-to-monitor-nyc-subway-safety-as-crime-concerns-rise-security.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"><source media="(min-width: 1280px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/720/405/02-ai-to-monitor-nyc-subway-safety-as-crime-concerns-rise-security.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/1440/810/02-ai-to-monitor-nyc-subway-safety-as-crime-concerns-rise-security.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="405" width="720"> A surveillance digicam mounted on a constructing (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

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Crime developments and authorities response Crime in NYC subways has seen ups and downs over current years. Whereas main crimes dropped by about 7.7% by mid-2024, assaults have sadly elevated. To bolster security, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul deployed 1,000 Nationwide Guard members to help transit police efforts. AI expertise is seen as a complementary instrument on this broader technique to hold subways secure, not a standalone answer.

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<source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/343/192/03-ai-to-monitor-nyc-subway-safety-as-crime-concerns-rise-police.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/686/384/03-ai-to-monitor-nyc-subway-safety-as-crime-concerns-rise-police.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="192" width="343"><source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/672/378/03-ai-to-monitor-nyc-subway-safety-as-crime-concerns-rise-police.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/1344/756/03-ai-to-monitor-nyc-subway-safety-as-crime-concerns-rise-police.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/931/523/03-ai-to-monitor-nyc-subway-safety-as-crime-concerns-rise-police.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/1862/1046/03-ai-to-monitor-nyc-subway-safety-as-crime-concerns-rise-police.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"><source media="(min-width: 1280px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/720/405/03-ai-to-monitor-nyc-subway-safety-as-crime-concerns-rise-police.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/1440/810/03-ai-to-monitor-nyc-subway-safety-as-crime-concerns-rise-police.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="405" width="720"> A police car (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

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Is AI being utilized in public transit elsewhere? New York is just not alone in exploring AI for transit security . Cities like Los Angeles and Chicago have experimented with AI-powered cameras for duties starting from weapons detection to issuing parking citations. These initiatives replicate a rising curiosity in utilizing expertise to reinforce public security in transit environments.

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<source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/672/378/4-ai-to-monitor-nyc-subway-safety-as-crime-concerns-rise.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/1344/756/4-ai-to-monitor-nyc-subway-safety-as-crime-concerns-rise.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/931/523/4-ai-to-monitor-nyc-subway-safety-as-crime-concerns-rise.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/1862/1046/4-ai-to-monitor-nyc-subway-safety-as-crime-concerns-rise.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"> Entrance to NYC subway (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)

Kurt's key takeaways Whereas the promise of AI surveillance is encouraging, a number of questions stay unanswered. We don't but know precisely which behaviors the system will flag or how efficient will probably be in apply. Maybe extra importantly, privateness advocates and civil liberties teams warn about potential biases in AI programs and the danger of false positives that would unfairly goal sure teams.

The MTA's choice to exclude facial recognition is a constructive step, however ongoing transparency and oversight shall be essential. Michael Kemper's in depth expertise main the NYPD's Transit Bureau, the place he helped cut back subway crime, provides credibility to the initiative. Nonetheless, as this expertise rolls out, balancing security with privateness and equity shall be key to incomes public belief.

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Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of expertise, gear and devices that make life higher together with his contributions for Fox Information & FOX Enterprise starting mornings on "FOX & Associates." Bought a tech query? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Publication, share your voice, a narrative thought or remark at CyberGuy.com.