By Dr. Jarrod Sadulski | 02/03/2026
Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way our society goes about daily living. It has become ingrained in many aspects of our lives, often without us realizing it.
For example, artificial intelligence is used for our internet searches through search engines, smart phone technologies, and navigation apps that predict traffic and reroute us around accidents. Artificial intelligence has also become part of our banking, healthcare, and social media posts.
Artificial intelligence saves us time. It filters through large amounts of content and online material to help us find what we need in a fraction of the time that it would take to manually review websites or documents.
Global Size of the AI Market
The artificial intelligence (AI) global market size in 2024 was valued at $225.41 billion and is estimated to grow to $1,236.47 billion by 2030. AI technology and artificial intelligence tools are improving and strengthening in their capabilities every day.
Using Technology for Crime Prevention and Crime Detection
One powerful tool of AI technology is machine learning (ML). Machine learning enables AI to learn from big data such as images, text, and numbers. It can apply a mathematical system to analyze vast amounts of data and identify patterns, using those patterns to make predictions or inform decisions.
Machine learning is self-learning and can adjust its models based on the lessons it learns. For instance, it can be used for credit card fraud detection and email filters that protect us from spam or harmful content.
Another important aspect of AI involves artificial neural networks. These types of networks are a type of AI model that enables computers to learn patterns from data from the lens of how the human brain processes information.
AI presents some challenges as well. Artificial intelligence tools and AI systems are commonly used by criminals to facilitate crime. In fact, AI tools and systems have drastically increased criminals’ ability to automate scams and deception at scales that have never been seen before.
For example, AI can be used to exploit victims. To target large numbers of victims, criminals can personalize scams by using:
- Voice cloning – mimicking the speech patterns of potential victims
- Deepfake videos – creating realistic-looking videos with images of a victim
- Phishing emails and texts – imitating real people the victim knows and convincing victims to send passwords or other ways to access a victim's financial records
AI technology has significantly increased the effectiveness of identity theft for criminals. For instance, AI can be used to create realistic identification that can be used to steal someone’s personal information.
Artificial Intelligence and Its Use by Criminals
Through fake social media accounts, criminals use AI to find and target vast amounts of people. AI-driven tactics are common in human trafficking recruitment.
For instance, criminals use AI to groom victims by creating a fake social media profile based on a victim’s interests. Often, a victim believes the person behind the profile is real, because AI technology can make the profile very convincing.
Criminals can persuade victims to:
- Withdraw money from financial institutions and send it
- Share personal information
- Meet them offline and get lured into human trafficking
AI is also used by organized crime groups and other criminals to spread disinformation. AI tools can manipulate people through false news articles and coordinated bot networks that appear to be legitimate. Artificial intelligence tools can also create fake audio or video content that criminals may use to damage reputations or extort money from a victim.
One particularly effective scam is the “grandparent scam.” Bad actors leverage AI to recreate the voice or image of a relative.
The grandparent receives a phone call from that family member who is in distress or involved in an accident and needs money urgently. Believing the scam, the grandparent sends the money to the criminal.
Some criminals have even gone as far as persuading victims that their relative has been kidnapped. With AI, they create a believable scam and convince a victim that it’s necessary to send ransom money for the loved one to be released.
AI and Crime Prevention
Public safety is always facing new and emerging threats. However, local police forces and federal law enforcement agencies apply AI in every way possible to combat crime.
There are many ways that AI can be used in crime prevention and criminal investigations. for instance, AI can be used to:
- Predict victim vulnerabilities, especially regarding financial transactions
- Conduct asset risk assessments
- Analyze large sets of data points to identify suspicious patterns and geographic locations where crimes may occur
- Dismantle organized crime operations
Advanced AI can be used in predictive policing. It can analyze large amounts of historical crime data associated with police reports and crime trend reports. As a result, artificial intelligence tools can help to prevent crime by predicting future crime risks and pinpointing areas where crimes may happen.
Also, these tools can help police departments with patrol resource allocation. It can optimize directed patrols and reduce response times by having officers and equipment in the correct locations based on previous crime data.
Leveraging AI to mitigate criminal behavior and criminal activities can save lives through the identification of potential crime hotspots. AI algorithms can help investigators identify patterns associated with criminals’ modus operandi and repeated crime patterns across different jurisdictions.
Strengthening Public Safety
The internet is filled with illegal activities. Criminal networks engage in drug trafficking, money laundering, financial crimes, human trafficking, and many other crimes online.
Public safety depends on law enforcement agencies using cutting-edge technology to combat offline and online crime. Law enforcement agencies have an obligation to apply every resource possible to prevent crime and increase public safety.
Law enforcement agencies can implement artificial intelligence tools that enable the real-time monitoring of crime. AI algorithms that utilize facial recognition can be used by police officers to identify suspects more quickly. Facial recognition technology in public areas can be used to locate:
- Wanted suspects
- Potential terrorists
- Missing people
Another way that AI systems can be used to detect crime in real time is through gunshot detection systems. One gunshot detection system is ShotSpotter®. It uses acoustic sensors, filters, and triangulation to detect gunshots in real time and accurately provide a location of the gunshots even before someone calls 911.
According to ShotSpotter, acoustic experts can confirm whether gunshots were heard. In less than 60 seconds, the system can provide valuable intelligence to law enforcement, such as whether gunshots were from a fully automatic weapon or whether there were multiple shooters.
Cross-Border Investigations through AI Adoption
To combat criminal activities online, AI can be used to monitor high-risk areas such as the dark web. Artificial intelligence technology can analyze the dark web for:
- Emerging threats
- Significant risks of terrorism
- National security threats
- Criminal networks hiding on the dark web
The successful implementation of machine learning models can be used to combat crime from a global perspective. Due to its ability to apply predictive analytics and analyze sets of data for suspicious activity, AI-assisted tools can be used by INTERPOL and other crime-fighting organizations to examine high-risk threats and criminal activities and detect transnational crime.
Many transnational criminal organizations utilize cloud data to manage illicit financial activities and their global criminal enterprises. AI-enabled investigative tools can help law enforcement intercept communications and data transmitted across the internet by transnational criminal organizations. This ability can be especially helpful for cross-border cybercrime investigations and international crime detection.
Police agencies and the private sector can use AI to monitor social media data and posts for indicators of extremism or terrorism ideology. Similarly, artificial intelligence technology can be used by homeland security agencies to monitor critical infrastructure for threats as well as for the risk management of critical infrastructures.
AI-powered tools can detect high-risk individuals operating on the internet. Although law enforcement should apply ethical considerations, this technology can be especially helpful in identifying online crimes involving children.
AI can sort through online open-source intelligence to detect crime and identify the internet protocol addresses of criminals using the internet to commit crimes. Artificial intelligence tools can be used to find:
- Specific bad actors
- Geographic locations where criminal activity is being solicited
- Currencies used for online criminal activity such as money laundering and illicit financial flows
Police officers and detectives should receive agency training on how AI can be implemented in their law enforcement duties. Also, police officers should be trained on the laws regarding the use of AI in criminal investigations to ensure that evidence collected through artificial intelligence technology is admissible in court.
Data collection through generative AI should be guided by agency policy and applicable state and federal laws. Data analytics through AI can significantly serve as a force multiplier for law enforcement.
Public and Private Partnerships in Crime Mitigation
Public-private partnerships to combat crime is essential. Both the public and private sector have an important role in utilizing AI tools to protect themselves against threats. For instance, private organizations can use AI to monitor for:
- Insider threats
- Leaked confidential information
- Facility threat detection
To combat threats, private organizations that manage critical infrastructures such as nuclear power plants, electrical grids, hospitals, and other critical infrastructures must leverage AI. Homeland security should support these private companies with financial resources, AI training, and other types of aid to protect critical infrastructures with artificial intelligence tools.
AI in real-time applications is a relatively new technology and should be embraced by law enforcement. As threats continue to evolve and change by our adversaries daily, law enforcement should use every technological advancement possible to mitigate threats.
Law enforcement should invest in training and computer technology to fight crime and ensure that they are up to date with future trends in AI and crime prevention. However, police departments should also ensure that artificial intelligence tools are used ethically, in conjunction with human oversight, to allay any concerns about biased data, racial bias, or data misuse in courts.
The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice at APU
For adult learners who are interested in exploring how technology can aid criminal justice, American Public University (APU) offers an online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. Taught by expert instructors, the courses for this degree include crime analysis, ethics in criminal justice, and criminal profiling. Other topics include criminal justice administration, criminology, criminal law, and constitutional law.
This degree offers a digital forensics concentration that includes courses on cybercrime, wireless networks, different areas of digital forensics, and the criminal legal process.
For more information about this B.S. in criminal justice, visit APU’s security and global studies degree program page.
ShotSpotter is a registered trademark of ShotSpotter, Inc.
Note: This degree program is not designed to meet the educational requirements for professional licensure or certification in any country, state, province or other jurisdiction. This program has not been approved by any state professional licensing body and does not lead to any state-issued professional licensure.
Dr. Jarrod Sadulski is an associate professor in the School of Security and Global Studies and has over 20 years in the field of criminal justice. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Thomas Edison State College, a master’s degree in criminal justice from American Military University, and a Ph.D. in criminal justice from Northcentral University.
His expertise includes training on countering human trafficking, maritime security, mitigating organized crime, and narcotics trafficking trends in Latin America. Jarrod has also testified to both the U.S. Congress and U.S. Senate on human trafficking and child exploitation. He has been recognized by the U.S. Senate as an expert in human trafficking.
Jarrod frequently conducts in-country research and consultant work in Central and South America on human trafficking and current trends in narcotics trafficking. Also, he has a background in business development.