Austin Police Department turns to AI as staffing crisis looms

'Save Austin Now' co-founder Matt Mackowiak and Austin resident Patricia Potyka joined'Fox & Friends First' to discuss the city's crime surge and police department shortages. The defunded Austin, Texas, police department launched a new non-emergency online reporting system on Thursday that is operated with artificial intelligence, or AI. In an announcement on Thursday, the Austin Police Department (APD) said it partnered with Versaterm Public Safety's Case Service to launch the new reporting software that communicates with the community through voice, mobile, web and text messaging, instantaneously. AUSTIN, TX - JULY 29: A member of the Austin, Texas police department stands watch during the Gold Cup semifinal match between the United States and Qatar on Thursday July 29th, 2021 at Q2 stadium in Austin,TX. As it communicates with the public, the AI asks questions and fills out a report that provides "key information" to the department within hours, like an officer wrote it up.