Artificial Intelligence for Rescue (A.I.R.) is a concept for using AI to support, not replace, rescuers who work at extreme heights and in other high-risk environments. It was presented at the World AI Show in Dubai, where Ivan Kristoff took part in a panel on AI in law enforcement and public safety.

Panel: “AI, the next frontier in law enforcement”

At the World AI Show in Dubai, Ivan Kristoff shared how AI-powered “RoboRescuers” can increase the efficiency of rescue operations. The panelists were:

• Capt. Dr. Essa Ibrahim Basaeed, Head of Technical Studies Section, General Department of Artificial Intelligence, Dubai Police (at the time of the event)
• Dr. Ryan Prox, Vancouver Police Department, Canada (at the time a Constable in charge of Crime Analytics)
• Dr. Sid Ahmed Benraouane, AI Governance Advisor to the Dubai Government, US ISO Delegate (SC 42) and IAPP UAE Chapter Chair; at the time of the event, Professor at the Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, Advisor to Dubai Police and Senior Advisory Board Member, Trescon
• Ivan Kristoff, founder of the A.I.R. concept

In short

• Prediction with data. AI, large data sets and 3D imagery can help anticipate scenarios in the mega high-rise environments of cities like Dubai.
• Ethics first. Decisions supported by AI must follow clear ethical principles and remain transparent.
• Liability. High-risk operations carry legal responsibility, so innovators and institutions need to work together on the legal framework.
• Data quality. The quality of the input data determines the quality of the result, and careless data collection can reinforce bias.

Read the discussion

Edited transcript of the panel discussion, prepared with AI assistance and lightly edited for readability. The video above remains the original record.

Dr. Sid Ahmed Benraouane: Hello everyone, my name is Sid Ahmed Benraouane. I’m a professor of management at the Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, and I advise Dubai Police on exponential technologies. Today I would like to kick-start our discussion on integrating artificial intelligence into society and government, with a particular focus on predictive analytics. This capacity of AI is crucial for enhancing safety, crime control and overall community well-being. With me today are Dr. Essa Basaeed from Dubai Police, Ryan Prox from the Vancouver Police Department in Canada, and Ivan Kristoff.

Ivan Kristoff: Greetings, I’m Ivan Kristoff. I studied cyber law and IT at the University of Toronto, and I have been involved in high-risk live-streaming work, particularly aerial high-rise rescue. One of the key challenges for cities like Dubai, with its growing number of mega high-rise buildings, is the unique perception pilots experience when navigating such structures. Artificial intelligence can play a pivotal role here by using vast amounts of data and 3D imagery to predict potential scenarios. Ethical considerations are equally important: our actions must align with clear ethical principles. I have firsthand experience in this field, including aerial videography at extreme heights, and I’m eager to discuss the new challenges AI presents for rescue operations.

Dr. Sid Ahmed Benraouane: Ivan, your insights are valuable, especially regarding the intersection of AI and high-risk operations. I’d like to go deeper into the practical applications you have encountered in your work.

Ivan Kristoff: Certainly. In high-risk operations, liability is a major concern. As a pioneer in this field, I know that responsibility for risk has to be addressed from the start. Smart-policing initiatives, driven by intelligent innovation, offer promising solutions, but it is essential to work with stakeholders to navigate the legal complexities and ensure ethical decision-making. Data collection in law enforcement must also be scrutinized so that AI algorithms do not perpetuate bias. The quality of data inputs determines the quality of AI outcomes, which is why ethical data collection and analysis are so important.

Dr. Sid Ahmed Benraouane: Your points highlight the critical role of data integrity in AI applications. The effectiveness of AI depends on the quality of its inputs. As we integrate AI, it’s crucial to prioritize ethical considerations and ensure transparent decision-making. Thank you for sharing your insights, Ivan.

Ivan Kristoff: My pleasure. I believe collaboration and ethical awareness will be instrumental in realizing the full potential of AI for public safety and rescue operations.

Dr. Sid Ahmed Benraouane: Absolutely. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and upholding ethical standards, we can use AI to create safer and more resilient communities. Thank you all for your contributions to this insightful discussion.

A human-centered approach

Ivan Kristoff is designing the A.I.R. platform to bring AI into rescue work carefully, to strengthen the Rescuer of the Future rather than replace the rescuer. Especially in aviation, where digital security matters, the human factor and moral compass must never be ignored.

“Super proud to be part of the opening of the #WorldAIShow discussion panel and of this outstanding project, which we kicked off in Dubai and which will gather more attention in Bulgaria and worldwide.

The moral side of AI decisions was one of the issues we discussed with representatives of Dubai Police, Vancouver Police and the academic world of the UAE.

I published “The SAR (Search and Rescue) Tech of the Future” after testing Microsoft HoloLens VR glasses at the opening of the Microsoft Innovation Center in Bulgaria. Now we are on the verge of developing my concept for the Future of Rescue and the New Generation of Rescuers.” — Ivan Kristoff

Meeting at Intersec

During the Intersec Artificial Intelligence and Information Security Conference, Ivan Kristoff met Brigadier Khalid Nasser Al Razooqi, Director General of Artificial Intelligence at Dubai Police. They discussed the possibility of developing the concepts in a series of A.I.R. projects, one of which is Artificial Intelligence for Rescue (A.I.R.).

The CN Tower: where the data comes from

In 2003, Ivan Kristoff completed solo rope access work on the antenna mast of the CN Tower in Toronto, then the tallest freestanding structure in the world. It was the first rope access work ever carried out at that height, more than 500 meters above the ground (the tower is 553 m, or 1,815 ft), and it is documented on video and in photographs.

The three-week project had to be planned for winter wind and cold. The contingency plan included aerial rescue by helicopter as an exit strategy, using Class D rotorcraft external human load techniques. These techniques were later practiced in a series of record-setting helicopter rope access operations, and the data collected can now be used for machine learning.

From extreme heights to AI

As buildings keep getting taller, Ivan Kristoff is working on bringing intelligence into A.I.R. solutions using cloud AI services and machine-learning platforms.

As part of the A.I.R. project he is documenting his work on VR visualization of what pilots and air rescue crews experience at extreme heights. He is also addressing the ethics of filming people who work where one slip could be fatal.

AI and robotics can help reduce how often rescuers must be exposed to danger. A further step is the concept of the “CybeRescuer of the Future”: a robotic system able to take on tasks in places too dangerous for people, always under human responsibility and oversight.

Ivan Kristoff studied cyber law and IT at the University of Toronto and is working on an initiative for the digital transformation of vertical and aerial rope access operations. He is a member of Nikon Professional Services (NPS); his introduction to digital imaging began with the Nikon D1, Nikon’s first professional digital SLR.

Embedded Extreme Journalism

Ivan Kristoff’s concept of Embedded Extreme Journalism takes viewers inside rescue missions and extreme environments, from conflict zones to rescue operations abroad.

Gaming and simulation for edutainment

Training for the new generation of rescuers can also use gaming and simulation technology:

“The future of gaming is a world where you can empower SAR techs with specialized training and the games they want, with the people they want, whenever they want, wherever they are, and on any device of their choosing. For my students, I want to re-create the world of e-xtreme training, extreme sports, at extreme heights, for the extreme experience.” — Ivan Kristoff