Will Artificial Intelligence Help Improve Prisons?

Artificial intelligence–connected sensors, tracking wristbands, and data analytics: We've seen this type of tech pop up in smart homes, cars, classrooms, and workplaces. And now, we're seeing these types of networked systems show up in a new frontier--prisons. Specifically, China and Hong Kong have recently announced that their governments are rolling out new artificial intelligence (AI) technology aimed at monitoring inmates in some prisons every minute of every day. In Hong Kong, the government is testing Fitbit-like devices to monitor individuals' locations and activities, including their heart rates, at all times. Some prisons will also start using networked video surveillance systems programmed to identify abnormal behavior, such as self-harm or violence against others.