On April 16th, Thailand’s Royal Thai Police (RTP) unveiled their new technological addition, “AI Police Cyborg 1.0.” A Facebook post announced the deployment of the robot on Tonson Road in Muang District. A photograph depicted the robot clad in a police uniform, positioned on a wheeled platform alongside other uniformed officers.
This robot was collaboratively developed by the Provincial Police Command 7, Nakhon Pathom Provincial Police, and Nakhon Nakhon Pathom Municipality. It boasts capabilities such as access to nearby CCTV cameras, drones, and its own 360-degree AI cameras. These cameras are equipped with facial recognition, behavioral analysis, weapon detection, and blacklist alerts. According to officials, the robot’s video analytics can discern between water guns and actual weapons and identify violent behavior.
The RTP’s Facebook post stated that AI Police Cyborg 1.0 is connected to the province’s Command and Control center to ensure efficient event safety management. The robot’s primary goal is to enhance public safety, reflected in its name: Police Colonel Nakhonpathom Plod Phai, translating to “Nakhon Pathom is safe.” A spokesperson informed ABP Live, “The AI Police Cyborg 1.0 assists in bolstering public safety, particularly during large events where traditional policing resources may be stretched thin. It acts as a force multiplier, providing constant vigilance.”
Despite the promising appearance, skepticism arises about the true intent of a police robot with extensive surveillance capabilities purportedly being used solely for event management. This issue gains significance considering the Thai police’s history of brutality against activists. Coincidentally, on April 16, Bloomberg reported that Thai security services were allegedly involved in doxxing pro-democracy activists on social media platforms.
Technology such as AI Police Cyborg 1.0 could lead to significant social and political consequences. However, concerns may be premature, as police robots still face considerable limitations compared to more developed surveillance technologies. Instances such as New York City’s retirement of a lackluster subway robot and a malfunctioning police robot in California highlight these challenges.
While the Thai police emphasized the robot’s sophisticated AI capabilities, Futurism observed that there is no evidence of the robot’s mobility. Many robots globally struggle to navigate simple obstacles, suggesting that Thailand’s robot may face similar issues. Given these challenges and the global track record of police robots, Thailand’s AI Police Cyborg 1.0 may not yet achieve its full potential.
