Cleveland's AI Robots: A New Dawn for Urban Safety or a Privacy Risk?

CLEVELAND, OH – December 29, 2025 – The city of Cleveland is rapidly becoming a national testbed for the future of urban security, marked by the growing presence of autonomous AI-powered devices patrolling its downtown core. A recent television feature on News 5 Cleveland spotlighted the expansion of a smart security program that utilizes robotic sentinels, drawing both praise for its reported success in crime reduction and raising complex questions about the future of surveillance in public spaces.

At the heart of the initiative are the RIO and ROSA units from Robotic Assistance Devices (RAD), a subsidiary of Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions, Inc. (AITX). These devices, ranging from stationary camera units to 360-degree solar-powered towers, are now fixtures in high-traffic areas like Public Square, Playhouse Square, and North Coast Harbor. City officials and leaders at Downtown Cleveland, Inc. (DCI) credit the program, which has grown to over thirty devices integrated with the city's Real Time Crime Center, with contributing to a measurable drop in serious crime and a revitalization of public areas.

A Blueprint for a Safer City?

The deployment in Cleveland is being positioned by its backers as a replicable blueprint for other municipalities grappling with public safety and post-pandemic recovery. The initial pilot began after a spike in downtown crime in 2023, and officials have since pointed to tangible results. According to DCI, visitor foot traffic in Downtown Cleveland has not only recovered but is now projected to exceed pre-pandemic levels, with office return rates reaching a post-pandemic high of nearly 72% in mid-2024. While these improvements are part of a broader downtown recovery effort, the enhanced security is cited as a key contributing factor.

The AI platforms are designed to be more than passive cameras. They are equipped with analytics to detect loitering and trespassing, use flashing lights and audible warnings to deter unwanted behavior, and can provide two-way communication with monitoring centers. The goal is to resolve minor issues autonomously before they escalate and require human intervention.

“This coverage reflects what happens when AI-powered security is deployed with purpose and accountability,” said Troy McCanna, Chief Security Officer of RAD, in a recent press statement. “When cities can address safety concerns early and consistently, it improves outcomes on the ground and strengthens public confidence in shared spaces.”

This vision of proactive, automated policing is what RAD is selling to other cities and business improvement districts, using the Cleveland expansion as its primary case study for deploying cost-effective security with speed and measurable impact.

The Price of Progress: Economics and Ethics

Beneath the surface of this success story lie pressing economic and ethical considerations that shadow the proliferation of AI in public life. AITX claims its solutions can offer cost savings of 35% to 80% compared to traditional manned security guards. While independent verification of this specific figure is difficult, the broader market trend supports the economic logic. A nationwide shortage of trained security personnel and the ability of automated systems to monitor large or hazardous areas 24/7 make robotics an attractive alternative for budget-conscious municipalities.

However, civil liberties advocates warn of a steep societal price. Organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have long raised alarms about the potential for smart cameras to evolve into “robot guards,” creating a reality of mass, automated, real-time surveillance. The concerns center on the erosion of privacy, the lack of transparency in how algorithms make judgments, and the potential for these systems to exacerbate existing racial biases in policing.

Furthermore, the security of the systems themselves is a significant concern. Cybersecurity researchers have demonstrated that even encrypted data from robotic devices can potentially be analyzed to reveal sensitive information. The risk of hacking, which could expose collected data or even allow malicious actors to take control of the robots, adds another layer of complexity for city officials to manage. As these devices become more interconnected with other smart city infrastructure, the potential vulnerabilities grow, creating a high-stakes environment where a single breach could have widespread consequences.

The Business of AI Security

For Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions, Inc., the Cleveland deployment is a critical proof of concept. The company operates in the burgeoning AI security market, which is projected to grow into a multi-billion-dollar industry within the next decade, fueled by the demand for smart city technologies and automated threat detection. AITX aims to disrupt this market with its Solutions-as-a-Service model, providing robotics on a subscription basis.

However, a closer look at the company reveals a financial picture common to many early-stage tech firms. Trading on the OTC market, AITX is not yet profitable, reporting a negative earnings per share despite growing revenue. The company carries significant liabilities and its stock is considered speculative by some market watchers. Leadership has publicly stated ambitious goals, including achieving positive operational cash flow and an eventual uplisting to the NASDAQ exchange, but its path is dependent on converting its sales pipeline into long-term recurring revenue.

To its credit, the company has taken steps to bolster its credibility with enterprise and government clients by completing a SOC 2 Type 2 audit, an independent validation of its internal controls for handling customer data. This certification is crucial for any firm hoping to manage sensitive public safety information and could be a key differentiator as it competes for municipal contracts.

As Cleveland continues to expand its robotic security force, it serves as a live experiment for the rest of the nation. The program's success is championed by city leaders who see a direct line between the AI deployment and a safer, more vibrant downtown. Yet, the long-term impact remains a subject of intense debate. As more cities face the choice to adopt similar technologies, they will be forced to weigh the promise of automated safety and economic efficiency against the profound and perhaps irreversible implications for privacy, equity, and public trust in an increasingly automated world.