The city of Austin is no longer considering using artificial intelligence to help catch people breaking into cars and committing other crimes at parks and greenbelts, at least for the time being.
Dozens of incidents, including car break-ins and stolen valuables, are reported at popular green spaces each year. Earlier this year, the city stepped up security measures, increasing police patrols and installing security cameras. Austin police in March also arrested 12 people in connection with car break-ins at public parks.
City officials were considering expanding the program through a $2 million contract with Utah-based LiveView Technologies, a security company that uses an artificial intelligence system to “analyze behavior” in camera footage, detecting potential crime. The Austin City Council was slated to vote on the contract in August, but city staff withdrew it from consideration just days before the meeting. The move came not long after the city ended its automatic license plate reader program over data privacy concerns…