Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison recently predicted that AI-powered surveillance will become an integral part of daily life. During a Q&A session at Oracle’s Financial Analyst Meeting, Ellison said AI would play a major role in monitoring society through a vast network of interconnected cameras. This system would include security cameras, police body cams and vehicle dashcams.
“Citizens will be on their best behavior, because we’re constantly recording and reporting everything that’s going on,” Ellison said, envisioning a future where AI analyzes real-time data from this network to prevent crime and influence public behavior for a safer society.
Ellison’s proposal, however, raises privacy concerns. Critics argue that widespread surveillance could infringe on personal freedoms, creating a “surveillance state.” Proponents, on the other hand, suggest that such systems could help solve crimes faster and provide transparency in law enforcement, particularly in cases of excessive force.
“We’re going to have supervision. Every police officer’s going to be supervised at all times,” Ellison said, emphasizing AI’s potential to oversee law enforcement activities.
Ellison’s vision highlights a growing trend among tech companies to use AI for societal influence, which could reshape public life in the coming years.