AI Drones Are Learning To Track People: What Does It Mean?

You've probably seen a drone before, perhaps at a park or a sporting event. Now, imagine a drone that can follow a person using facial recognition. That's exactly what researchers have demonstrated, using readily available AI software from companies like Anthropic and OpenAI to program a relatively inexpensive drone to do just that.

This isn't sci-fi anymore; it's happening with everyday technology. The AI, acting as a kind of digital brain, wrote the instructions for the drone. This means it can identify a specific face and then autonomously (that is, on its own without a human remote control) navigate to keep that person in sight, even moving through doors or around obstacles inside a house.

The concerning part is that this wasn't done with super-secret, cutting-edge military tech. It used AI models that are publicly available. This raises some serious questions about how easily this kind of technology could be misused. While the immediate application might seem like a bit of fun, the potential for privacy invasion or even more concerning uses becomes clear.

For everyday Australians, this highlights the growing power of AI and the need for clear discussions about its ethical use. It's a reminder that as AI gets smarter and more accessible, we need to think about the rules and safeguards required to ensure it's used responsibly and doesn't infringe on our privacy or safety. It's not about stopping progress, but guiding it carefully.