
We’ve heard a lot about how AI is going to destroy the world, and hey, it still might…but there are some interesting uses for this technology that you may not previously have thought about.
It turns out robots could help solve cold cases.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to help solve crimes that have stumped investigators for decades. An AI tool named Söze, developed in Australia, has the ability to process massive amounts of data in an unprecedented timeframe, performing tasks that would take a human 81 years in just 30 hours, according to claims by police officials. Avon and Somerset Police in the UK have been trialing this tool to assist in complex investigations, with promising results.
Söze can analyze and integrate data from multiple sources—such as video footage, social media, emails, and hard drives—much faster than any human team could manage. This ability to quickly sift through vast amounts of evidence makes it particularly valuable for reviewing cold cases, where decades of evidence might be scattered across different formats and databases. AI like Söze helps investigators not only manage the volume of information but also uncover patterns and relationships that may have been overlooked.
Gavin Stephens, Chairman of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, sees potential for the tool to be used in notorious cold cases, such as that of Victorian serial killer Jack the Ripper. He believes that, for cases burdened by overwhelming amounts of evidence, AI could provide a vital breakthrough by analyzing data that might otherwise be too time-consuming for human investigators.
The AI’s capabilities extend beyond just speeding up data analysis. It allows detectives to visualize connections between suspects, events, and objects in ways that weren’t previously possible. For instance, investigators can ask Söze to identify links between two suspects based on patterns in the data, which would otherwise take days or weeks for humans to discover.
Following the initial trials, Avon and Somerset Police plan to test Söze in live investigations, further exploring how the technology can support detectives in real-time. The implications for ongoing cases could be substantial, offering a more efficient, abstract way to analyze evidence and reduce human error.
AI technology is not just aiding cold cases. In the UK, AI is being used to track knives involved in violent crimes. Scotland Yard has developed a database of knives known to police, with detailed information such as blade length, material, color, and even retailer details. This database, containing over 20,000 images and 500 different knives, aims to help law enforcement trace the origin of weapons used in crimes, thereby assisting in both solving crimes and preventing future violence. With over 49,000 knife-related offenses in the UK in 2023, this effort is seen as crucial to reducing crime rates.
AI tools like Söze and the knife database represent a shift in how law enforcement agencies approach crime-solving. These technologies offer law enforcement not only speed and efficiency but also the ability to analyze and interpret data in ways previously impossible for humans alone. As AI continues to develop, its role in solving cold cases and preventing crimes may become indispensable in the years ahead.