They're putting cameras *where* now?
Alright, so you know how Edmonton, like any self-respecting city, occasionally dips its toes into the future, sometimes with a little more gusto than others? Well, buckle up, because the latest buzz involves our police service and a Canada-first AI facial recognition bodycam pilot program. Honestly though, it sounds like something out of a Philip K. Dick novel, doesn't it? Especially when you hear about a “critical fault” system outage and the fact that the facial recognition model came from a company called Corsight AI – which, apparently, has a bit of a… reputation. It's not exactly the kind of thing you expect to hear while you're grabbing a latte down on Whyte Ave.
### What This Means for Edmonton
It's one thing to see new tech at the Muttart Conservatory or even down at the Ice District, but on the uniforms of the people walking our streets? That's a different kettle of fish entirely.
* This pilot, which was supposed to be a quiet little trial, has apparently faced some significant hiccups, including a system-wide crash. Which, let's be frank, doesn't inspire a tremendous amount of confidence in something that's supposed to be enhancing public safety. * The use of Corsight AI is also raising eyebrows, given past reports about their technology. It makes you wonder about the due diligence, doesn't it? We’re not talking about a new app for ordering perogies here; this is serious stuff. * There's even talk of extending the pilot, which means this particular flavor of technological advancement might be sticking around longer than initially planned.
Edmonton doesn't need your approval. Never did. But when it comes to something like this, a bit of transparency, a bit of public discourse, would probably go a long way. Because whether you're strolling through the River Valley or navigating traffic on Gateway Boulevard, knowing what kind of tech is in play on our streets is something most Edmontonians would want to be clear on. It’s about more than just data; it’s about the kind of city we want to be.
Darren Fedoruk, MiTL Sports Desk, Edmonton.
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