AI to monitor NYC subway safety as crime concerns rise
Imagine having a tireless guardian watching over you during your subway commute. It notices every detail with steady focus, all with one goal in mind: keeping you safe on the subway.
New York City's subway system is testing artificial intelligence to boost security and reduce crime. Michael Kemper, a 33-year NYPD veteran and the chief security officer for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which is the largest transit agency in the United States, is leading the rollout of AI software designed to spot suspicious behavior as it happens.
The MTA says this technology represents the future of subway surveillance and reassures riders that privacy concerns are being taken seriously.
The AI system will analyze real-time camera feeds across subway platforms and train cars to detect unusual or potentially dangerous behaviors. Instead of identifying individuals, the technology focuses on behavior patterns that might signal trouble, such as erratic movements or confrontations. When the AI flags something suspicious, it can alert transit police to respond quickly, which could help prevent crimes before they escalate.
Currently, about 40% of subway cameras are monitored live by staff. The AI aims to expand this coverage without needing additional personnel, which could enhance safety across the system. While details about the AI providers and full deployment timelines have not been shared, the MTA emphasizes that facial recognition technology will not be part of this system. This is intended to protect rider privacy.
Crime in NYC subways has seen ups and downs over recent years. While major crimes dropped by about 7.7% through mid-2024, assaults have unfortunately increased. To bolster safety, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul deployed 1,000 National Guard members to support transit police efforts. AI technology is viewed as a complementary tool in this broader strategy to keep subways safe, not a standalone solution.
New York is not alone in exploring AI for transit security. Cities like Los Angeles and Chicago have experimented with AI-powered cameras for tasks ranging from weapons detection to issuing parking citations. These initiatives reflect a growing interest in using technology to enhance public safety in transit environments.
While the promise of AI surveillance is encouraging, several questions remain unanswered. We do not yet know exactly which behaviors the system will flag or how effective it will be in practice. Perhaps more importantly, privacy advocates and civil liberties groups warn about potential biases in AI systems and the risk of false positives that could unfairly target certain groups.
The MTA's decision to exclude facial recognition is a positive step, but ongoing transparency and oversight will be crucial. Michael Kemper's extensive experience leading the NYPD's Transit Bureau, where he helped reduce subway crime, adds credibility to the initiative. Still, as this technology rolls out, balancing safety with privacy and fairness will be key to earning public trust.
Would you trust AI to watch over you in the subway or are you more concerned about your privacy? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.
Follow Kurt on his social channels:
Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions:
New from Kurt:
Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Apple is about to answer a burning question about its future
Apple is about to reveal what's next for its most important products at its annual Worldwide Developer's Conference on Monday. This year, the stakes are significantly higher than usual. Apple announced its long-awaited push into artificial intelligence at last year's event by introducing Apple Intelligence, a suite of AI-powered features for the iPhone and other products. But delays and underwhelming capabilities have put Apple on its back fo ot. The company has struggled to convince consumers and Wall Street that it's a leader in the crucial technology, which is expected to overhaul the way people work, communicate and find information online. Now, one year after introducing Apple Intelligence, the company is on the hook to prove at this week's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC), a key annual event for the company, that it can make a name for itself in the AI space as its chief rivals like Google continue to charge ahead. At this year's WWDC, which kicks off Monday with a keynote address from Apple CEO Tim Cook and other executives at 10 a.m. PT, don't expect Apple to show off a flashy new iPhone or Apple Watch. Instead, the company will outline new capabilities for its current devices that lay the foundation for where it could be going next. 'WWDC, from a developer conference perspective, is maybe more interesting than others,' said Carolina Milanesi, president and principal analyst at technology analysis firm Creative Strategies. 'It does give consumers a peek as to what they can expect coming to whatever device that they already own.' How much or how little those software updates incorporate Apple Intelligence could be telling. Apple did not immediately respond to CNN's request for comment regarding its WWDC plans and AI strategy. Apple's AI struggles are larger than just a product delay. The bigger issue is that Apple's current AI tools don't offer experiences that are notably different from what you can get elsewhere. Apple Intelligence can summarize text messages, identify real-world surroundings with the iPhone's camera, erase unwanted objects from photos, rewrite emails and prioritize notifications. But those features are similar to capabilities offered by other companies such as Google, OpenAI and Samsung. In fact, rivals like Google and OpenAI are already moving one step further with technology they claim can execute tasks for consumers rather than just answering questions or generating summaries. There are benefits to waiting; Apple has largely been able to avoid the embarrassing AI gaffes of its rivals, with one exception. Apple is also known for popularizing new technologies rather than being first, as was the case with smartwatches and tablets, two categories it now dominates. But Apple has yet to prove it can do the same with AI. And it doesn't sound like that's going to change at WWDC, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who wrote the event 'may be a letdown from an AI standpoint,' citing 'people within the company.' However, the report did say Apple may open its models to developers so that non-Apple apps can incorporate text summarization and its other AI-powered features. The company may also announce an AI-powered battery management tool, according to Bloomberg. But Dan Ives, global head of technology research for Wedbush Securities and an Apple bull, isn't concerned about whether Apple makes significant AI announcements on Monday. He thinks Apple has a big opportunity to monetize Apple Intelligence moving forward despite its slow rollout, he wrote in a June 6 report. Google, whose Android operating system is the only major rival to Apple's iOS, has been barreling ahead with new AI tools and services. Its annual I/O developers conference was entirely focused on AI, with the company showing how the tech will be incorporated into everything from its ubiquitous search engine to its popular Chrome browser and Gmail. At that event, Google also announced an upgraded version of its AI-generated video engine that made headlines and raised alarm for its ability to create startingly realistic clips. 'I think it's becoming clearer how far behind they (Apple) are in AI,' Deepwater Asset Management managing partner Gene Munster told CNN in March. Samsung is also said to be partnering with AI startup Perplexity to package its app and digital assistant into its Galaxy phones, according to Bloomberg. This comes after Motorola incorporated AI technology from several companies, including Perplexity, on its new Razr flip phone – further underscoring that the technology could play a bigger role in smartphones. That presents a major opportunity for Apple; it's the world's second-largest phone maker by market share and also the only mobile device company to completely control both the hardware and software of its products. That crucial benefit has long been an advantage for Apple, giving it more freedom to develop exclusive features tailored for its products on its own timeline rather than coordinating with partners. Wedbush Securities estimates that '25% of the world's population will eventually access AI through an Apple device over the next few years,' Ives wrote. But Apple has yet to execute on that potential with AI, and the clock is ticking. 'We need more time to complete our work on these features so they meet our high quality bar,' Apple CEO Tim Cook said in reference to the more personal version of Siri on the company's May earnings call. 'We are making progress, and we look forward to getting these features into customers hands.' There's a growing belief in the tech industry that some new type of device could one day supplant, or at least partially replace, the smartphone. And those devices, unsurprisingly, will largely run on AI. Eddy Cue, the longtime Apple executive that leads the company's services division, even acknowledged this, saying during his testimony in Google's search antitrust trial that 'you may not need an iPhone 10 years from now,' Bloomberg reported. Veteran former Apple designer Jony Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman are also partnering to develop a new AI hardware product, the pair announced last month. Companies like Google, Samsung and Meta are also investing in smart glasses with built-in digital assistants that can identify objects in a person's environment as a potential successor to the smartphone. That doesn't mean iPhones will become obsolete anytime soon, nor does it mean consumers will switch to Android or avoid upgrading because of a lack of new AI features. But in the near term, AI could give Apple another means to encourage iPhone upgrades if executed properly. Apple Intelligence is only supported on newer models, specifically the iPhone 15 Pro and later, meaning customers with older phones must upgrade to use it. Apple touted the iPhone 16 as being 'built for Apple Intelligence' when announcing the device in September. Cook said during Apple's most recent earnings call that year-over-year iPhone 16 performance was stronger in countries where Apple Intelligence was available than those where it was not available, perhaps an indication that its AI efforts are somewhat helping sales. The fact that people carry their iPhones – along with their AirPods and Apple Watch – everywhere they go could give Apple's Siri a leg up compared to rivals like Amazon's Alexa. That is, if Apple does it right. 'The fact that Siri knows me so much more, just because my main driver, from a phone perspective, is an iPhone will make that interaction even more valuable than what Alexa does,' said Milanesi. '(Alexa) sees me in my home context, but doesn't necessarily come with me in the outside world. So that is the potential right now.'
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
This Bitcoin Trader Went From A $1 Billion Long Position To Begging For Donations
Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. "James Wynn" has dominated conversations on cryptocurrency Twitter for risky Bitcoin bets. Wynn appeared unstoppable at first, but his victory lap was brief. The high-risk trader is not yet willing to throw in the towel. A popular saying goes, 'Quit while you're ahead.' For "James Wynn," however, this likely means nothing. The pseudonymous cryptocurrency trader who rose to prominence for catching Pepe early in 2023 grabbed headlines in May for a $1 billion long bet on Bitcoin on the decentralized exchange Hyperliquid, using 40x leverage. What could go wrong? Well... everything. But it was not apparent at first. Don't Miss: — no wallets, just price speculation and free paper trading to practice different strategies. Grow your IRA or 401(k) with Crypto – . At first, it seemed like the market could not go against Wynn. Bitcoin surged to record highs above $110,000 and Wynn's unrealized profit swelled to $100 million. 'People see the trades and think it's some high-level stupid gambling kind of thing, and yes it is,' Wynn said at the time. 'But it is backed by my own thesis, which in turn, is a calculated risk.' Wynn doubled down by opening similar leverage positions on memecoins like Pepe, TRUMP and FARTCOIN, betting that Bitcoin would go higher. 'Bitcoin is dying to breakout higher. My target remains the same of 115-118k by the end of next week. However, could easily happen within a matter of hours even,' he said. But this prediction failed to materialize. Bitcoin instead began to retreat from its highs and Wynn's high-risk positions unraveled spectacularly, turning a $100 million paper profit into a $17.5 million total account loss. Trending: New to crypto? on Coinbase. 'I've decided to give perp trading a break,' Wynn said in the aftermath. 'Its been a fun ride. Approx $4m into $100m and then back down to a total account loss of $17,500,000. The time has come for me to return to where I came from. The place that helped carve me into the gigantic degenerate I'am today.' Wynn's hiatus did not last long. He was back on Monday asking his followers for donations to 'fight the market making cabal,' promising full refunds, presumably after beating this supposed cabal. It is unclear what victory in this fight will look like. But this lack of clarity did not stop followers from sending approximately $54,000 in donations to Wynn, as an analysis of his wallet on Arkham Intelligence showed. At least $20,000 of these funds have been sent to Hyberliquid to support another risky 40x BTC long with a liquidation price of about $103,600. At last look, Bitcoin is trading near $106,000. Arkham reported on Tuesday that this new position came within $70 of liquidation before the market rebounded, putting the high-risk trader $60,000 in profit. 'I'm trying [sic] swap inflationary fiat currency for hard capped deflationary real money at a rate of 40x leverage yet you all say I'm gambling,' Wynn said on Wednesday. 'We don't have time. Speed matters. The dollar is collapsing in real time. I'm doing everything I can to acquire as much $BTC so I don't go down with the sinking ship. What are you doing?' Read Next: A must-have for all crypto enthusiasts: . Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — Image: Shutterstock This article This Bitcoin Trader Went From A $1 Billion Long Position To Begging For Donations originally appeared on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Is Nvidia stock a massive bargain — or a massive value trap?
AI has transformed demand for computer chips and the most obvious beneficiary of that has been Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA). With a stock market capitalization of $3.4trn, Nvidia might not seem like an obvious bargain. But what if it is really worth that much – or potentially a lot more? I have been keen to add some Nvidia stock to my portfolio, but I do not want to overpay. After all, Nvidia has shot up 1,499% in five years! So, here is what I am doing. For some companies in which I have invested in the past, from Reckitt to Burberry, I have benefited as an investor from a market being mature. Sales of detergent or pricy trenchcoats may grow over time, but they are unlikely to shoot up year after year. That is because those firms operate in mature markets. On top of that, as they are large and long-established, it is hard for them to grow by gaining substantial market share. So, market maturity has helped me as an investor because it has made it easier for me to judge what I think the total size of a market for a product or service may be – and how much of it the company in question looks likely to have in future. Chips, by contrast, are different. Even before AI, this was still a fast-growing industry – and AI has added fuel to that fire. On top of that, Nvidia is something of a rarity. It is already a large company and generated $130bn in revenues last year. But it is not mature – rather, it continues to grow at a breathtaking pace. Its first-quarter revenue was 69% higher than in the same three months of last year. Those factors mean that it is hard to tell what Nvidia is worth. Clearly that is not only my opinion: the fact that Nvidia stock is 47% higher than in April suggests that the wider market is wrestling with the same problem. Could it be a value trap? It is possible. For example, chip demand could fall after the surge of recent years and settle down again at a much lower level. A lower cost rival could eat badly into Nvidia's market share. Trade disputes could see sales volumes fall. With a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 46, just a few things like that going wrong could mean today's Nvidia stock price ends up looking like a value trap. On the other hand, think about those first-quarter growth rates. If Nvidia keeps doing as well, let alone better, its earnings could soar. In that case, the prospective P/E ratio based on today's share price could be low and the current share price a long-term bargain. I see multiple possible drivers for such an increase, such as more widespread adoption of AI and Nvidia launching even more advanced proprietary chip designs. So, I reckon the company could turn out to be either a massive bargain at today's price, or a massive value trap. The price does not offer me enough margin of safety for my comfort if the stock is indeed a value trap. So, I will wait for a more attractive valuation before buying. The post Is Nvidia stock a massive bargain — or a massive value trap? appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. More reading 5 Stocks For Trying To Build Wealth After 50 One Top Growth Stock from the Motley Fool C Ruane has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Burberry Group Plc, Nvidia, and Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. Motley Fool UK 2025
