Moline Police To Use AI Translators In Body Cameras

We all know AI is just doing more and more stuff these days.

This week, the Moline City Council signed off on allowing AI translation software to be used in police body cameras.

According to the city documents, the real-time AI translation software will be programmed into both the officers' uniform cameras and their in-car cameras.

Officers will use the AI translator when a human translator can't be there to help them. The AI translator can translate 60 languages through the camera in just seconds.

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We're all thinking it: how accurate are AI translators actually?

The American Translators Association says there are pros and cons to using AI to help translate between languages. We've come a long way from Google Translate but there are still issues. For example, it can struggle with less common languages, it doesn't understand idioms, nuances, or humor, or complex terms.

AI accuracy can also depend on the language. It's reported that AI translators have an easier time with languages like Spanish, French, or English, while they struggle more with languages like Chinese, Vietnamese, and Arabic.

But in Moline's case, the AI translators will only be used when a human translator isn't immediately available.

Moline will now enter a $145,000 contract with Axon Enterprises Inc. from August 1, 2026-July 31, 2031. The city says the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity grant funds will cover the cost.

Multiple police departments across the country use AI translators in police body & car cams. But many of them keep it as a backup to human translators and still use human translators for sensitive and specific legal topics.