This week, a new artificial intelligence-powered camera system will undergo its first major test drive at two Depeche Mode concerts in Paris. Developed for the 2024 Paris Olympics, the cameras can detect suspicious behavior among large crowds in real-time.
According to The Telegraph report, the six cameras installed in and around the concert arena will monitor movements during the events for signs of overcrowding, abandoned packages, weapons, and other threats. The French police intend to evaluate the system’s crowd control capabilities before deploying it at next summer’s Olympic games.
AI surveillance complies with French regulations, allowing sports venues to utilize AI. That application emerged after chaos was experienced among crowds at the 2022 Champions League final, also held in Paris.
Nonetheless, privacy advocates have raised concerns about the systems’ monitoring capabilities in public spaces. Proponents argue AI surveillance will improve safety given its ability to analyze environments comprehensively.
AI’s expanding presence is evident in various industries, including through reality-setting concerts. Defense is one of the sectors incorporating more automation, with the US military recently adopting AI to identify battlefield targets. Entertainment has also applied AI, as highlighted when actor Tyler Perry paused a studio project upon learning AI could generate video content.
So, while debates around appropriate use continue, AI’s ongoing integration across key economic segments appears inevitable. As developers refine their capabilities, ethical questions surrounding transparency and bias must remain in focus for the technology to progress responsibly.
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