911 centers are so understaffed, they’re turning to AI to answer calls

The article highlights the staffing crisis faced by 911 call centers in the United States. Due to the shortage of human operators, some centers are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to help manage non-emergency calls. A company called Carbyne has developed an AI-powered voice assistant that can answer and triage certain types of 911 calls. The AI system can gather initial information, provide first-aid instructions, and transfer callers to the appropriate emergency services if necessary. This technology is intended to free up human operators to focus on the most urgent, life-threatening situations. However, some experts raise concerns about the reliability and effectiveness of AI in emergency response situations. The article emphasizes the growing challenge of maintaining adequate staffing levels at 911 call centers, which can lead to longer wait times and potentially compromise public safety. The adoption of AI-assisted systems is seen as a potential solution, but the technology's limitations and implications for the future of emergency services are still being evaluated.