Trump’s new border security strategy leverages AI and robotics to enhance safety and monitoring at the Southern Border.
Washington: Kevin Cohen, the CEO of RealEye, is excited about the tech that could help secure America’s borders. He’s got some cool tools up his sleeve.
He shows off a screen filled with images of people from all walks of life. “We gather info from tons of online sources to spot potential threats,” he explains. “In seconds, we can analyze 50,000 individuals and give insights on their behavior.”
With Trump back in the White House, he’s made it clear that sealing the Southern Border is a top priority. He’s got big plans right from Day One.
RealEye has rolled out two AI platforms, Masad and Fortress, that monitor immigrants in real-time. They look at everything from criminal records to social media activity to spot any suspicious behavior.
Cohen pulls up a profile of a guy named Yosef, and it’s like a movie scene. “This guy funnels money to Hamas,” he says. “We know he’s trouble.”
As migrants wait at the US-Mexico border, the Border Patrol is feeling the heat with staffing shortages and rising illegal crossings.
Trump’s plans include a massive deportation operation and a hotline for citizens to report undocumented migrants. He’s also thinking about building a huge detention center along the Rio Grande and finishing that 30-foot border wall.
“We need to be smarter about who crosses the border,” Cohen says. His company is using AI to help keep out dangerous criminals.
In December, Trump even took legal action to stop Biden from selling border wall materials. He’s ready to revisit some of his old ideas, like floating barriers, which Texas has already started using.
AI is becoming a big part of Trump’s strategy. The Department of Homeland Security is getting $5 million to set up an AI office, and they see it as a game-changer.
Another company, Bavovna AI, is working on drones that can fly without GPS, making them hard to jam. They’ve been tested in Ukraine and could be a game-changer for border security.
AI is already being used at the border, and Trump’s administration is all in. They want to ramp up AI surveillance systems, especially after Biden’s push for “smart border” tech.
Neil Sahota, an AI advisor, thinks Trump might try to build both a physical and digital wall to control the border better.
Plans are in motion to upgrade surveillance towers that can spot unauthorized crossings. Trump’s administration is expected to expand these initiatives significantly.
Robotic dogs, which are still being tested, could also patrol the border. Trump is already using one at Mar-a-Lago.
There are worries about these dogs being weaponized, but the company behind them insists they’ll only be used for patrolling.
RealEye’s system goes beyond just fingerprints. They track digital footprints to catch bad actors before they enter the country.
Some folks are concerned about AI bias, especially in vetting processes. They worry it could unfairly target certain groups.
Despite the concerns, there have been successes. An AI model recently flagged a truck crossing the border, leading to the discovery of a large drug stash.
But not everyone is comfortable with AI in border security. Sahota warns it could lead to mass surveillance and privacy violations.
Cohen believes the focus should be on catching criminals, not innocent immigrants. He’s personally motivated, having lived next to one of the 9/11 attackers as a kid.
“We have to be smarter and find creative ways to ensure everyone crossing the border is who they say they are,” he says.
