WASHINGTON—FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency has used artificial intelligence (AI) to help detect and stop threats related to potential school shootings in North Carolina and about half a dozen other states.
In an interview, Patel explained that the technology is
being used to analyze large amounts of information, identify potential threats,
and expedite the delivery of relevant data to agents and local authorities.
The FBI director noted that since he took office, the use of
artificial intelligence tools within the agency has increased by 605 percent.
He explained that the FBI went from having two AI test cases to approximately
140 uses for processing information, classifying intelligence, and facilitating
its analysis.
“AI, when used lawfully, is a critical tool for classifying
data,” Patel said, highlighting the role the technology can play in
investigations.
Patel also said the FBI has used these tools in cases
related to potential attacks on schools. He recalled a previous case in North
Carolina where a lead was analyzed with the help of artificial intelligence,
allowing authorities to intervene before a potential shooting occurred.
The official stated that similar situations have arisen in
other states, though he did not publicly offer specific details about each case
or explain which AI systems were used.
This strategy is part of a broader expansion of technology
use within the FBI. Patel has indicated that the agency seeks to leverage
artificial intelligence tools to process information more quickly, identify
patterns, and alert agents in the field to potential threats.