US Justice Dept named AI Officer as New Technology Challenges Law Enforcement

Previously, Mayer served as a technology adviser to Vice President Kamala Harris

The U.S. Justice Department has appointed its inaugural official dedicated to artificial intelligence as the department confronts the potentially transformative impacts of AI on federal law enforcement and the criminal justice system. Jonathan Mayer, a professor at Princeton University specializing in technology and law, has been selected to assume the roles of chief science and technology adviser as well as chief AI officer, according to the department's announcement. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the necessity for the Justice Department to keep abreast of rapidly evolving scientific and technological advancements to fulfill its mandate of upholding the rule of law, ensuring national security, and safeguarding civil rights.

Mayer's responsibilities include advising Garland and department leadership on matters about emerging technologies, particularly the responsible integration of AI into the department's investigative and prosecutorial processes. As U.S. officials grapple with the challenges of a loosely regulated and swiftly expanding technology landscape, the department has already leveraged AI for various purposes, such as tracking the origins of illicit drugs, analyzing FBI tips, and organizing evidence related to investigations such as the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, noted Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco in a recent address in Britain. While acknowledging the potential benefits of AI in detecting and thwarting terror plots and adversarial actions, Monaco also underscored concerns about its potential to exacerbate existing biases, interfere with electoral processes, and create new avenues for cybercriminals.