First AI officer appointed by U.S. Justice Department tackles new challenges.

TLDR:

• The U.S. Justice Department names its first artificial intelligence officer to address challenges in law enforcement.
• Jonathan Mayer from Princeton University will serve as chief science and technology adviser and chief AI officer.

The U.S. Justice Department has appointed Jonathan Mayer, a professor at Princeton University, as its first official artificial intelligence officer to tackle the impacts of AI on federal law enforcement and the justice system. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the importance of keeping up with technological developments to uphold the rule of law and protect civil rights. Mayer will advise department leaders on integrating AI into investigations and prosecutions, despite concerns about biases and cyber risks. The department has already utilized AI in various areas, such as tracing drugs and analyzing tips, and aims to enhance its capabilities in detecting threats and disrupting hostile actions. Mayer will lead a board to assess the ethics and effectiveness of AI systems and recruit more tech experts to the department.