APCO & iCERT: Advancing AI for Emergency Response

Sunday, August 2 | 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Megan Bixler, CPE, RPL, Director of Technology, APCO International
Don Brittingham, President, Northern Lights Consulting (iCERT)

Artificial intelligence continues to gain momentum across public safety. This session provided attendees with an overview of the APCO International and iCERT AI in Emergency Response Program. Megan Bixler and Don Brittingham explored how AI technologies were being evaluated to support all facets of emergency response. The presentation highlighted opportunities to improve efficiency, enhance situational awareness, assist with decision-making and automate routine tasks while emphasizing that AI should support, rather than replace, human expertise in emergency response.

During the presentation, attendees learned about both the benefits and challenges associated with AI adoption in public safety environments. Examples of how AI could assist with call triage, transcription, translation, resource optimization and responder safety were shared. The session also examined critical concerns related to cybersecurity, data privacy, algorithmic bias, governance, legal liability and workforce readiness. By addressing both opportunities and risks, the presenters provided a balanced perspective on the realities of implementing AI within emergency response operations.

By Megan Bixler