The FBI is increasingly relying on artificial intelligence (AI) to detect threats and combat crime, particularly targeting transnational criminal organizations and drug cartels, according to Deputy Director Christopher Raia. Speaking with CBS News three weeks after the FBI released data showing a significant drop in violent crime across the United States, Raia highlighted how AI has improved the bureau’s ability to respond swiftly to credible threats. He noted that the time between receiving a tip and taking action in the field has been reduced from weeks to just hours, or even minutes, thanks to AI-driven tools. According to the FBI’s annual crime report released in August, the U.S. murder rate reached a 20-year low in 2025, and violent crime as a whole saw the largest one-year decline on record. The report showed a 7.2% decrease in aggravated assaults, a 7.6% drop in rapes, and an 18.5% decline in robberies. Raia attributed these improvements to a combination of factors, including the efforts of state and local law enforcement, increased border security, and a renewed focus on addressing violent crime. He emphasized that AI has played a key role in helping the FBI manage the large volume of data it receives, allowing analysts to prioritize the most urgent threats. One example Raia provided involved Zachary Charles Newell from Newport, North Carolina, who was sentenced to two years in federal prison for posting online threats to "shoot up a black preschool" and harm children. AI helped prioritize this tip, enabling the FBI to act quickly and make an arrest in a matter of days rather than weeks. When asked about concerns about AI’s impact on civil liberties, Raia said the FBI has been transparent with oversight bodies, including Congress, to ensure that citizens' rights are protected. The bureau has submitted over 50,000 pages of documents for review in the past year and a half. Raia also addressed concerns related to Flock Safety, a company that provides automated license plate readers to thousands of law enforcement agencies. Critics worry that the data collected by these systems could infringe on privacy rights. Meanwhile, Raia highlighted the Trump administration's efforts to target drug cartels and transnational gangs. The creation of the Homeland Security Task Force in January 2025 has fostered greater collaboration between the FBI and agencies such as Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Treasury Department. In August, 81 alleged members of a violent gang in Puerto Rico were charged with drug trafficking and firearms violations as part of this initiative.