AI has become an increasingly important tool in the fight against crime. In a recent case, AI was used to track down a Chinese spy balloon that had been floating across the United States for months.
The story began when amateur astronomer and software engineer Tony Dunn noticed something strange in the night sky over his home in Arizona. He saw what appeared to be a large, brightly lit object moving slowly across the horizon. After some research, he determined it was likely an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) of some kind – possibly from China – and decided to investigate further.
Dunn contacted other astronomers around the country who had also seen similar objects in their skies and began tracking its movements using satellite imagery and data from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). With this information, he created an artificial intelligence (AI) system that could predict where the UAV would go next based on its past trajectory.
Using this AI-driven system, Dunn tracked the UAV as it moved across several states over several months before finally coming to rest near San Francisco Bay Area airport SFO International Airport on August 8th 2020. The US government then took possession of it after determining that it did indeed belong to China’s military forces and contained sensitive technology not meant for public consumption or use outside of China’s borders.
This incident highlights how powerful AI can be when applied correctly: by leveraging existing data sources such as satellite imagery combined with machine learning algorithms, individuals like Tony Dunn are able to uncover previously unknown threats quickly and accurately without putting themselves at risk or requiring expensive equipment or personnel resources typically associated with traditional surveillance methods.
This is just one example of how AI is being used today; many organizations are now turning towards these technologies for help with security operations ranging from facial recognition systems at airports all the way up through autonomous drones patrolling borders looking for suspicious activity or illegal crossings into foreign countries . As we continue our journey into an ever more connected world powered by advanced technologies like AI , we must remain vigilant about potential threats while also taking advantage of these new tools whenever possible so that we can stay safe while still enjoying all benefits they have offer us .
Wired
