Criminal Investigators and Special Agents

Record evidence and documents, using equipment such as cameras and photocopy machines.

AI: Fully automatable - Recording evidence and documents with cameras and scanners is routine and can be fully automated and managed by AI-controlled systems while producing admissible digital records.

Collect and record physical information about arrested suspects, including fingerprints, height and weight measurements, and photographs.

AI: Fully automatable - Booking tasks like capturing fingerprints, photos, and biometric measurements are routine and can be fully automated with AI-enabled systems and devices.

Examine records to locate links in chains of evidence or information.

AI: Fully automatable - AI systems can analyze large volumes of records, perform entity resolution and link/network analysis, and reliably surface links in chains of evidence (with humans validating legal admissibility).

Compare crime scene fingerprints with those from suspects or fingerprint files to identify perpetrators, using computers.

AI: Fully automatable - Automated fingerprint identification systems and AI matching algorithms can fully compare crime-scene prints with suspect databases to identify matches.

Prepare reports that detail investigation findings.

AI: Partial - AI can draft detailed investigation reports from structured data and transcripts, but finalization, interpretation of ambiguous evidence, and legal accountability typically require human review.

Obtain and verify evidence by interviewing and observing suspects and witnesses or by analyzing records.

AI: Partial - AI can analyze records and assist with interview questioning, transcription, and credibility signals, but cannot fully perform in-person observation or legally replace human interviews and nuanced credibility judgments.

Identify case issues and evidence needed, based on analysis of charges, complaints, or allegations of law violations.

AI: Partial - AI can analyze charges and suggest issues and evidence needs using data and precedent, but human investigators must validate priorities and exercise legal and contextual judgment.

Investigate organized crime, public corruption, financial crime, copyright infringement, civil rights violations, bank robbery, extortion, kidnapping, and other violations of federal or state statutes.

AI: Partial - AI can mine data, link networks, and generate leads for organized and financial crime investigations, but cannot carry out field operations, covert activity, arrests, or legally accountable investigative actions.

Obtain and use search and arrest warrants.

AI: Partial - AI can draft affidavits and prepare warrant paperwork and evidence packages, but cannot perform sworn appearances to obtain warrants or execute arrests in place of humans.

Search for and collect evidence, such as fingerprints, using investigative equipment.

AI: Partial - AI and robotics can operate fingerprint scanners and other collection devices and assist scene processing, but nuanced evidence search, preservation, and chain-of-custody decisions still require human investigators.

Determine scope, timing, and direction of investigations.

AI: Partial - AI can model case timelines, recommend scope and priorities based on data, but final determination of investigative direction and timing requires human strategic and legal judgment.

Analyze evidence in laboratories or in the field.

AI: Partial - AI can perform and accelerate many laboratory and field evidence analyses (e.g., digital forensics, pattern matching), but expert human interpretation, validation, and courtroom defensibility remain necessary.

Collaborate with other offices and agencies to exchange information and coordinate activities.

AI: Partial - AI can facilitate secure information sharing, drafting, and coordination platforms but cannot fully replace human authority, trust-building, and legal decision-making required for interagency collaboration.

Develop relationships with informants to obtain information related to cases.

AI: Partial - AI can analyze data to identify potential informants and manage information but cannot reliably establish and maintain the human trust, judgment, and ethical oversight needed to develop informant relationships.

Perform undercover assignments and maintain surveillance, including monitoring authorized wiretaps.

AI: Partial - AI can automate surveillance monitoring, transcription, and analytics, but cannot perform undercover assignments that require real-world presence, deception, and interpersonal judgment.

Collaborate with other authorities on activities, such as surveillance, transcription, and research.

AI: Partial - AI can assist with surveillance analytics, transcription, and research and can support information exchange, but cannot fully assume coordination responsibilities and legal/operational decisions among authorities.

Manage security programs designed to protect personnel, facilities, and information.

AI: Partial - AI can automate monitoring, threat detection, access control, and policy recommendation tasks within security programs but cannot fully replace human leadership, policy decisions, and personnel management.

Provide protection for individuals, such as government leaders, political candidates, and visiting foreign dignitaries.

AI: Partial - AI can support protective operations via threat assessment, surveillance, and planning, but cannot physically provide personal protection or make all on-the-ground split-second protective decisions.

Administer counterterrorism and counternarcotics reward programs.

AI: Partial - AI can administer processing of tips, evaluate claims, and manage payments for reward programs, but legal oversight and discretionary decisions remain necessary for final administration.

Issue security clearances.

AI: Partial - AI can automate background checks, data aggregation, and risk scoring for security-clearance processing but cannot perform the final adjudicative decision, sensitive interviews, or exercise official authority to issue clearances.

Testify before grand juries concerning criminal activity investigations.

AI: Not automatable - AI cannot provide sworn oral testimony before a grand jury or assume the legal role and responsibilities of a human witness or agent.

Serve subpoenas or other official papers.

AI: Not automatable - AI cannot physically serve subpoenas or satisfy jurisdictional legal service requirements, though it can prepare documents and manage scheduling.