FBI Embraces AI for Enhanced Operations
When I became the ninth director of the FBI, modernizing the bureau with advanced technology was a key focus. At the time, the FBI was using an outdated system that lacked AI, which really felt like putting a modern battery in an old vehicle. We needed significant upgrades instead of just temporary fixes.
Over the past year, I take pride in the progress we’ve made under President Trump’s leadership. We’ve revamped the FBI’s infrastructure, increasing transparency and achieving record results in tackling violent crime and safeguarding our nation.
Artificial intelligence plays a crucial role in this transformation. When Dan Bongino, the then-Deputy Director, and I started at headquarters, AI had little presence within the FBI. Recognizing the need for improvement, we formed a working group focused on AI, gathering insights from leaders in the field. We appointed a Chief AI Officer and established an AI Review Board to direct these initiatives. Moreover, we developed an AI Champions program to drive these efforts throughout the department. Most importantly, we established partnerships with industry leaders to rebuild our infrastructure and implement AI on a large scale.
AI is fundamental to our operations. It helps us find victims of child exploitation and apprehend predators. Last year, the FBI located 6,300 missing children, marking a 30% increase, and arrested 2,000 abusers, a 20% rise. A recent case in Richmond demonstrated our AI’s potential, as facial recognition tools aided in rescuing children from potential abusers, although those perpetrators face significant prison sentences.
We now employ AI tools to generate call transcripts and summarize information efficiently. For example, when someone contacts the National Threat Operations Center, our AI systems not only document the call but also summarize the threats and compare them to our databases for relevance. This process has enabled swift action against threats, including foiling a planned mass shooting at a North Carolina preschool.
Fingerprint identification remains a significant method for identifying individuals. Some culprits attempt to mask their identities by damaging their fingerprints, which complicates the identification process. However, our Criminal Justice Information Services has integrated real-time AI detection of tampered fingerprints. In 2025, this system successfully identified 34 altered fingerprints, leading to the arrest of several wanted criminals.
AI is also invaluable for rapidly translating extensive data across various formats. Following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, the FBI needed to analyze over 75 terabytes of information daily, with each search warrant potentially containing up to 180,000 messages. Analyzing even a single search warrant typically requires multiple analysts over several weeks. Our current translation model achieves about 80% accuracy, allowing linguists to focus on the remaining 20% that necessitates human attention.
We’re not replacing people; we’re enhancing their capabilities, sharpening our investigations, and increasing our efficiency. It’s like leaving a star player on the bench instead of utilizing their talents.
With the aid of AI, we are better identifying and apprehending fraudsters and drug traffickers. Collaborating with private sector partners, we’re also advancing techniques for detecting deepfakes in these investigations.
Furthermore, using AI for operational efficiency helps us maintain accountability to taxpayers. With the introduction of Enterprise AI assistants, the FBI saved $300 million and uncovered over $1.2 billion in contract cost savings.
These represent just a few ways AI is empowering the FBI in our mission. Under the current administration, we’ve embraced technology to enhance efficiency and accountability in crime-fighting efforts. The changes were essential—past leadership often hindered our abilities by neglecting technological investments. But with my leadership, we’ve made significant strides, and this momentum will continue.
The FBI, regarded as the premier law enforcement agency globally, now offers our personnel the tools necessary to fulfill the critical mission of safeguarding America. Thanks to the brave individuals utilizing these tools, our nation is experiencing a level of safety unheard of in decades.
