An AI tool is generating police reports for some Minnesota departments, prompting legal concerns

Artificial intelligence has reached Minnesota police departments, and it's raising concerns in some parts of the legal system.

KSTP-TV's investigative team has learned that several Twin Cities metro area departments are using an AI tool to generate some police reports from body-worn camera video.

Investigative reporter Kirsten Swanson told MPR News host Cathy Wurzer what she’s found out about who’s using the generative AI tool and the bubbling legal concerns.

“The biggest thing for police departments that I've talked to is the time savings. If you talk to any officer, so much of their shift is eaten up by doing these reports after the fact,” Swanson said. Brooklyn Park Police Inspector Matt Rabe told her he thinks this is “the next big thing in policing.”

But some of the lawyers who prosecute cases based on those AI-generated reports are nervous. "We learned Hennepin County has said, ‘Full stop, we're not accepting any of these reports at this time,’” Swanson said, “because of the implications it may have in a trial."

Listen to the conversation by clicking the player button above.

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