AI and Forensic Science: A Conversation with Prof. Ruth Morgan on Innovation, Ethics, and the Future

In this conversation, Jo Shilton interviews Professor Ruth Morgan, a Professor of Crime & Forensic Science and Vice Dean (Interdisciplinary Entrepreneurship) at UCL, about her work at the intersection of science, technology, and the humanities.

They discuss the use of AI in forensic science and the challenges of evidence interpretation, and they also touch on the importance of interdisciplinary approaches and the impact of culture and context on scientific observations.

Professor Morgan shares her journey into forensic science and the need for evidential underpinning in forensic techniques. The conversation highlights the role of AI in fingerprint and DNA databases and the potential for AI to enhance evidence analysis in forensic science. The conversation explores the use of AI in forensic science and the challenges and opportunities it presents. It discusses the shift from traditional forensic methods to the analysis of digital footprints and the vast amount of data available. The conversation also delves into the challenges of bias and regulation in AI, as well as the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and the importance of human creativity in the age of AI.

Takeaways

• Forensic science requires interdisciplinary approaches that bring together diverse ways of thinking and seeing.
• The interpretation of evidence in forensic science is influenced by culture, context, and the scientist's perspective.
• The development of fingerprint and DNA databases in forensic science has relied on algorithmic tools for searching and identification.
• AI has the potential to enhance evidence analysis in forensic science and improve the understanding of what evidence means in a forensic context. AI is transforming forensic science by enabling the analysis of digital footprints and the vast amount of data available.
• The shift from traditional forensic methods to AI-based analysis presents challenges in finding relevant material in a large ocean of data.
• Bias and regulation are important considerations in the use of AI in forensic science.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial in harnessing the full potential of AI in forensic science.
• Human creativity and craft are still essential in the age of AI, and AI should be seen as a tool to enhance human capabilities.