In my industry—public safety—every decision can mean the difference between life and death, so we don't take decisions lightly. We approach decisions with the utmost seriousness. I founded my company out of frustration: I was robbed at the beach, and while trying to get help, I found myself wasting so much time trying to explain to first responders where I was. It seemed illogical to me that while ordering an elaborate meal or arranging a ride with a single click is effortless, getting help during an emergency was so complex. It seemed evident that the industry where we should focus our technological expertise is the one that saves lives.

Highways were designed with shoulders to allow a space for vehicles to pull off in an emergency. So, what is it about shoulders that are so risky? The following are factors in many road shoulder crashes:

AI is enhancing public safety in a number of ways by making certain tasks more manageable, which can help reduce stress among first responders. These workers already face highly stressful situations, and the industry is grappling with serious staffing issues, resulting in long shifts, limited support and tremendous responsibility, which further add to their stress.

I'm a natural advocate for AI. However, my years in the business have also made me truly understand the threats involved and the danger of incorporating AI without the proper security measures and implementation.

However, AI's applications in public safety extend beyond call centers. It's been used in investigations and to analyze crime data as well. It is even being used to help support firefighters.

3. Invest in encryption technologies. Robust encryption and authentication protocols can help secure communication channels from internet-based threats.

6. Be vigilant. Stay updated on emerging threats and techniques by attending industry conferences, webinars and training sessions to keep your systems secure.

For example, some companies, my own included, provide bots that learn and evolve to answer administrative lines for emergency call centers, as well as call triage and language translation solutions. Call triage can help mitigate abandoned, redundant or non-urgent calls and, in turn, help address stress from multitasking. Another challenge is language barriers. Currently, 93% of ECCs rely on human translators, according to my company's research. AI-based translation can detect languages and translate within seconds.

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When you’re faced with an emergency situation on the highway and are unable to exit, your best option is to move onto the shoulder. Unfortunately, careless, oblivious, and reckless drivers can still put you in a lot of danger, despite your efforts to protect yourself.

When you have done everything right, but you or a loved one is seriously injured in a collision on the shoulder anyway, you could be entitled to compensation from the driver who caused the crash. Let us evaluate your case in order to determine if the other driver acted negligently and is liable for your losses. Don’t allow someone else’s mistake to disrupt your future.

5. Check your vendors. Ensure vendors adhere to industry certifications like SOC 2, HIPAA and ISO 27001 for robust security of sensitive data.

In a McKinsey Global survey, 65% of responding organizations reported regular use of generative AI. Three-quarters of respondents said they believe GenAI would "lead to significant or disruptive change in their industries" in the coming years.

Each year, my company and the National Emergency Number Association conduct our "Pulse of 9-1-1 State of the Industry Survey" to understand the challenges faced by communications professionals across all levels of emergency services in North America. In February, we received 1,335 responses from emergency communications professionals. We found that 75% of participating emergency communications centers do not have a budget to increase their head count, and 82% of ECCs with budgets have difficulty filling those positions. This means that individuals who must deal with stressful situations as part of their job may lack the support they need. One way to help address this is through technology.

Tech is in my company's DNA, so we adopted AI early. In our operations, we've seen that AI can drive a number of disruptive changes.

Discussions around the benefits and risks of artificial intelligence in business have yet to reach a consensus. As businesses continue to integrate the technology into their operations, one thing is certain: AI is here to stay.

Is AI a friend or foe? It can certainly be a friend and help us in various ways. However, as leaders, we need to be wise about incorporating it into our businesses and world.

Contact us now or call us at 540-341-0007 to take the first step toward recovering the compensation you deserve after a devastating highway shoulder accident.

4. Be aware of regulatory changes. As AI technology evolves, so does the regulatory landscape. Businesses must stay informed about new regulations and ensure their AI systems comply with all legal requirements. I recommend leveraging the strictest zero-trust protocols to validate all customers/users and make it difficult for unauthorized users to establish a presence within your systems.

Amir Elichai is the CEO of Carbyne, a New York-based software company that develops cloud-native emergency call management solutions.

AI systems require large amounts of data to function, and if this data is not adequately protected, it becomes susceptible to breaches and exposure of sensitive information. In the first half of this year alone, there were more than 1 billion victims of data breaches. The average cost of a data breach globally is $4.88 million.

1. Have a prevention strategy before adopting AI. A prevention strategy should begin with a comprehensive risk assessment to identify potential vulnerabilities in your AI systems. Leaders should prioritize investing in robust cybersecurity measures, including regular software updates, employee training and incident response planning.

Highway shoulders are exceedingly dangerous places for both pedestrians and motorists alike. Although they’re specifically meant for emergency situations and emergency vehicles, hundreds of people are killed every year on highway shoulders while awaiting assistance, changing a tire, hooking up to a tow truck, or dealing with a police officer.

While the potential benefits of AI in business are immense, ensuring your business is not at risk of security threats is even more important. Immuta's AI Security & Governance Report 2024 (registration required for full report) found that 80% of data experts believe data security is more challenging today due to AI.

2. Consider cloud-native technology. This type of tech may help reduce some on-premises risks like ransomware. In the event of a device being compromised, users can switch devices and continue accessing the service. Recovery is often simple through remote backups and restore to recover.

According to recent data taken from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, approximately 12 percent of all interstate highway deaths are caused by a vehicle using the shoulder. This means that an estimated 600 people a year are killed—and thousands more are injured—while making emergency stops off the highway.