Oracle's Larry Ellison Says AI Will Someday Track Your Every Move

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In a provocative vision of the future, Oracle's founder and current Chairman and CTO, Larry Ellison, discussed the potential for AI to revolutionize law enforcement at a recent Oracle financial analysts meeting. Ellison predicted that AI will power a comprehensive surveillance network, monitoring both police officers and citizens alike.

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“We’re going to have supervision,” Ellison stated. “Every police officer is going to be supervised at all times, and if there’s a problem, AI will report that problem and report it to the appropriate person. Citizens will be on their best behavior because we are constantly recording and reporting everything that’s going on.”

The Role of AI in Law Enforcement

Ellison’s remarks reflect a growing trend in which technology, particularly AI, is viewed as a potential solution for reducing crime and improving accountability. The idea is simple: if everyone knows they are being watched, they are more likely to follow the rules. For police, AI could act as an impartial supervisor, constantly overseeing behavior to ensure officers act within the law.

However, there are concerns about the broader implications of such pervasive surveillance. The notion of being “constantly recorded and reported” raises questions about privacy, civil liberties, and the potential for abuse.

The Issue of Bias in AI Surveillance

Ellison’s vision, while ambitious, faces significant hurdles. A key concern is that AI models could perpetuate or even amplify existing biases. In the U.S., law enforcement data has long been criticized for being racially and socioeconomically biased. According to The Washington Post, feeding such data into AI systems risks creating feedback loops that target specific communities unfairly.

For example, in 2019, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) suspended its predictive policing program after an audit found that it disproportionately focused on Black and Latino communities. Critics argue that AI-powered surveillance tools, if trained on biased historical data, may lead to similar outcomes, perpetuating discriminatory practices rather than curbing them.

Balancing Security and Civil Liberties

Ellison’s vision is part of a larger debate about the role of AI in policing and society at large. While proponents believe AI could make law enforcement more efficient and accountable, critics worry about the erosion of civil liberties and the rise of a surveillance state.

The idea of AI monitoring everyone at all times may reduce crime, but it also raises the specter of a society where privacy is a thing of the past. Striking the right balance between security and freedom will be key as AI technologies continue to evolve.

Personal View: Navigating a Fine Line Between Security and Freedom

While Larry Ellison's outlook on AI-driven surveillance paints an efficient, crime-free future, it’s critical to approach this with caution. From a historical perspective, every leap in surveillance technology brings both promise and risk. Yes, the potential to reduce crime and hold both citizens and law enforcement accountable is a powerful incentive, but at what cost?

The deployment of AI in policing opens up dangerous possibilities if not carefully regulated. AI, like any technology, mirrors the data it is trained on. If historical law enforcement data is biased, AI systems could reinforce those same disparities. In a world where algorithmic decisions can lead to real-world consequences, there is a genuine risk of entrenching existing social inequalities.

Moreover, the idea of constant surveillance—where every action is watched and reported—brings to mind an Orwellian future, a far cry from the kind of freedom that democratic societies strive for. A world where privacy is forfeited for safety can quickly slip into authoritarianism.

In my view, while AI has the potential to transform law enforcement for the better, it must be balanced with rigorous safeguards to protect civil liberties. If not, the trade-off between security and personal freedom could become too steep to justify.