The future of crime and security

Artificial intelligence (AI) for crime and security

AI, the beating heart of tomorrow, touches every organisation. Self-learning systems analyse, connect, and create anything imaginable. This presents opportunities as well as threats. How do we prepare for this technological revolution that demands new skills and a proactive approach to ethics and safety?

Urban crimes

Living in a connected city certainly has its perks. Unfortunately, all this convenience is not without its dangers. Did you know that each smart device in your home is a potential point of entry for a dedicated hacker? And did you know that criminals regularly launch sophisticated, coordinated cyber-attacks on our critical infrastructure, targeting power grids, water treatment systems, hospitals?

Health at risk

To enable medical staff to administer treatment and access patients’ vitals remotely, medical devices are becoming increasingly connected. And did you know that we already have technology that enables scientists to read thoughts and plant new ones? While these medical breakthroughs are designed to restore or improve human abilities, in the wrong hands, they could herald a pretty spooky future.

Genetic editing crimes

We’ve entered into an era in which science could rewrite the gene pool of future generations of plants, insects, and even humans. While this could help eradicate genetic disease or create healthier, stronger crops, in the hands of criminals, it could cause genetic hell to break loose. Think human cloning or virus-carrying insects endangering the global food supply.

Economic crimes

The abundance of digital technologies and our increasing use of cryptocurrencies offers unprecedented opportunities. These developments, however, also herald a new age of financial crime. Financial technologies like payment apps, e-wallets, digital currencies, and anonymous blockchain transactions give criminals access to various money laundering options, while AI is increasingly used to fool biometric scanners and create audio and video deepfakes.

Government & military threats

With the development of new technologies, new types of crimes have emerged that can harm military and national security, leaving entire countries defenceless. Cyber-warfare describes cyber attacks that cause physical damage to people, places, and objects in the real world. Damage could be inflicted using AI, drones, robots, 3D/4D-printing technology, real-time satellite monitoring, or personalised bioweapons.

Climate hacking

‘Climate hacking’ or geoengineering involves ideas like sucking up CO2 with artificial trees, cloud seeding, solar radiation management, and spraying sulphur particles into the atmosphere to create a cooling effect. However, if something goes wrong or the tech falls into the wrong hands, consequences could be devastating. Could this supposed techno-fix for global warming enable evildoers to weaponise the weather?

Ethics

In many ways, people are no longer separate from technology. It is, therefore, important to keep an eye on the moral side of technological developments, consider the implications for the world of tomorrow, and ensure we take important ethical considerations into account. We need to determine our boundaries and voice our opinions about how people and machines should work together.

New skills & roles

New technologies have brought significant change to law enforcement, making policing increasingly data-driven. Law enforcement officers will need to be tech-savvy, analyse data for insights, and get deeply involved in their communities. Via apps and innovative tech like VR/AR headsets, hazard sensors, protective exoskeletons, and predictive policing software, future crime fighters will be nothing short of high-tech.

The future of leadership

The future of work requires a new type of manager, who challenges the status quo and is willing to abandon entrenched ‘best practices’. There will be a move to flatter hierarchies as millennials are great team players and see traditional hierarchies as outdated. The managers of the future will offer employees opportunities to develop new skills and explore new positions.

The company of the future

The company of the future is hyper connected. It closely monitors new developments and collaborates with startups, scientists, and universities. It uses smart algorithms to analyse the world and employs a flexible workforce capable of rapidly developing new products and services. The company of the future requires accessible, inspiring leaders who are not afraid to veer off the beaten track.