Axon’s AI Ethics Board Resigns Following TASER Drone Announcement

The majority of Axon’s AI ethics board has resigned in response to the company’s decision to develop TASER-equipped drones. This controversial announcement followed yet another tragic shooting at a school in the United States. Axon’s founder and CEO, Rick Smith, contemplated how the company could potentially combat this frustratingly recurring issue.

As discussions about stricter gun laws resumed, Smith expressed that, historically, these debates have led to little significant change. “In the aftermath of these events, we get stuck in fruitless debates. We need new and better solutions,” he remarked.

While many may agree with this sentiment, Smith’s solution has sparked considerable debate. “We have elected to publicly engage communities and stakeholders, and develop a remotely operated, non-lethal drone system that we believe will be a more effective, immediate, humane, and ethical option to protect innocent people,” he stated.

The proposed TASER drone system aims to leverage real-time security feeds obtained through a collaboration with Fusus. Chris Lindenau, CEO of Fusus, emphasized the limitations of traditional emergency response systems. “Trying to find and stop an active shooter based on the telephone game connecting victim 911 callers is antiquated,” he noted, advocating for a network of cameras that can provide first responders with visual live feeds.

Following the announcement, nine out of twelve members of Axon’s AI ethics board decided to resign, highlighting their previous concerns regarding the initiative. They had recently voted 8-4 against proceeding with a limited pilot study intended to assess the drones’ concept, which was designed to potentially avoid police force escalation by using non-lethal options.

The departing board members articulated their apprehensions, indicating that the continuous push for surveillance capabilities could disproportionately affect communities of color and other over-policed populations. “The Taser-equipped drone also has no realistic chance of solving the mass shooting problem Axon now is prescribing it for, only distracting society from real solutions to a tragic problem,” they stated.

In the past, the board played a role in steering Axon away from harmful technologies, such as aggressive facial recognition systems. However, recent interactions have shown that their advice has been increasingly disregarded. “We all feel the desperate need to do something to address our epidemic of mass shootings. But Axon’s proposal to elevate a tech-and-policing response when there are far less harmful alternatives, is not the solution,” concluded the board members.

For those interested in delving deeper into discussions on AI and big data within the industry, the AI & Big Data Expo is scheduled to take place in Amsterdam, California, and London.

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