Academics say the technology is letting policemen detect crime that hasn't taken place yet.

n a major piece of research called "Artificial Intelligence and life in 2030", researchers from Stanford University said "predictive policing" techniques would become commonplace in the next 15 years.

The academics discussed the crime fighting implications of "machine learning", which allows computers to learn for themselves and then solve problems just like a human.

This technique will have a major effect on transport, healthcare and education, potentially bringing massive benefits as well as putting millions of jobs at risk.

But in the hands of cops, AI has the potential to have a massive impact on society by allowing law enforcement to have an "overbearing or pervasive" presence.

"Cities already have begun to deploy AI technologies for public safety and security," a team of academics wrote.

"By 2030, the typical North American city will rely heavily upon them.

"These include cameras for surveillance that can detect anomalies pointing to a possible crime, drones, and predictive policing applications."

Machine learning and AI is already used to combat white collar crime such as fraud. It is also used to automatically scan social media to highlight people of risk of being radicalised by ISIS.
Yet the range of crimes which could be stopped by AI is likely to grow as the technology becomes more advanced.