RoboCop Arrives in New York City, but Not Everyone is Convinced
NEW YORK – Times Square is now being patrolled by a 200kg robot as part of an effort to increase security and combat crime in the city’s busiest subway station. The robot, known as Knightscope K5, will be on a trial basis for two months.
The robot does not carry any weapons, but it is equipped with four cameras and an alarm button. It will patrol the subway station between midnight and 6 am. While some New Yorkers see this as a positive step towards enhancing security, others are skeptical and have dubbed it “a trash can on wheels.”
“I don’t understand how it is supposed to help,” said Indie, a 45-year-old New Yorker. The sentiment is shared by many who question the effectiveness of a robot in emergency situations. “How will a robot help you if something happens? It won’t be fast enough,” Indie added.
Nevertheless, Mayor Eric Adams sees the robot as a cost-effective solution to the shrinking number of police officers in the city. “It takes no toilet breaks, no meal breaks,” Adams said, highlighting the potential benefits of using a robot for security purposes.
However, critics argue that another camera is not the same as having more police officers on the ground. “Humans can make decisions and see what’s going on – a robot can’t,” said Bo Holst, a 71-year-old New Yorker.
This move towards using robots for security purposes is not unique to New York. Several US police agencies and private companies have also started experimenting with security robots in various settings. However, the reliability and effectiveness of these robots are still being debated.
Knightscope, the company behind the robot, believes their technology goes beyond just being a moving camera. Their robots incorporate AI technology, cameras, GPS, and sensors to detect and report disturbances.
However, the company has faced criticism in the past. In 2017, their robots blocked homeless people from sleeping outside their premises, and incidents involving the robots have raised concerns about their functionality and safety.
While the implementation of the robot police in New York may be seen as a step in the right direction for some, others argue that it is simply a distraction from addressing real public safety concerns.
“This is the dumbest drone yet,” said Albert Fox Cahn, CEO of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project. “Our mayor would rather invest in technological distractions than address real public safety threats.”
As the trial period for the robot police continues, its impact on crime rates and public perception of security measures will be closely watched. Time will tell if New York City’s new RoboCop can truly make a difference in combating crime and ensuring the safety of its residents and visitors.