Calgary police rolling out AI translation in body cameras June 1

Calgary police will become the first Canadian force to fully deploy AI translation technology in body cameras when the feature rolls out June 1.

The system can translate conversations from more than 60 languages in real time at the push of a button, with translation simultaneously recorded. Deputy Chief Cory Dayley called it "a major step forward in reducing language barriers directly on our front line."

Sally Zhao, president and CEO of the Immigrant Education Society in Calgary, described the move as an "inclusive gesture" for people who speak other languages. Her organization serves more than 2,000 clients daily who speak upwards of 90 different languages. She noted that language barriers have sometimes led to miscommunications between newcomers and officers — an issue the technology could help resolve.

Doug King, a justice studies professor at Mount Royal University, says the translation capability will help during emergencies where time is critical and could build bridges between police and multicultural communities. He predicts most major Canadian police forces will adopt similar AI for translation within years.

The Calgary Police Service has already been using AI to review evidence and prioritize files, resulting in projected savings of $1 million over the past year. The privacy commissioner will assess the AI translations in coming weeks.