Robocop envisioned an AI-powered cybernetic police officer, raising enduring questions about automation and ethics in law enforcement. In this episode, we examine dilemmas around lethal force authority, bias, transparency, and accountability as emerging AI policing tools make dystopian fiction feel increasingly real. Can algorithms and autonomous robots ever replace human judgement in upholding justice ethically? By analyzing cautionary tales like Robocop along with modern cases of bias in AI systems, we uncover insights and guardrails for developing artificial intelligence that enhances policing humanely.

Join Professor Gephardt in unpacking the promise and perils of AI for 21st century law enforcement through facts, ethical analysis, and interactive discussions. Discover how citizens can help cultivate AI as a tool to advance justice responsibly, not become the perfect criminal’s co-conspirator.

This podcast was generated with the help of artificial intelligence. We do fact check with human eyes, but there might still be hallucinations in the output. Listen now!

Music credit: "Modern Situations" by Unicorn Heads

Robocop and the Real-World Rise of AI Policing