SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) — In an effort to connect with the community in a new way, the San Jose Police Department released an AI-generated video of Chief Paul Joseph, speaking Spanish, to ease fears regarding immigration enforcement in the community.
“Honestly, it was so different,” Chief Joseph said. “It took me a minute because it was my voice, but it’s speaking Spanish.”
SJPD hopes to reach the more of the community with artificial intelligence.
After listening to hours of Joseph’s voice, AI was able to translate this video in English into Spanish.
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Chief Joseph says language shouldn’t be a barrier that slows down progress of building trust across the city.
“I am the Chief of Police,” Joseph said. “So, I am really the person who represents the department. So, while others can speak Spanish, if this is successful and well-received, we can do other messages in the future in Spanish and Vietnamese and reach an even wider array of members of the community.”
SJPD admits that AI is a work in progress.
But Laurie Valdez with Silicon Valley DeBug says using AI works actually against Joseph’s goals of building trust.
“Learn Spanish on your own,” Valdez said. “If not, don’t try to say that it comes from you. If you’re standing right there with a Spanish-speaking officer next to you, and they’re just translating it like ASL, it’s still coming from you – the message – but you’re having someone who can actually speak the language.”
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What’s not lost in translation is the message from the video.
Chief Joseph and the San Jose Police Department want to make sure that everyone comes forward if a crime occurs – no matter your immigration status. Chief Joseph says there has been a decrease in reports of certain crimes within the home in the last six months.
He worries people are fearful of being deported if they work with police and the AI video is meant to reaffirm trust in officers.
“We will never question or detain somebody about their immigration status,” Joseph said. “We will never arrest or detain somebody because of their immigration status. No one who is a victim, or a witness, to a crime should never fear having contact with San Jose police.”
Chief Joseph made it clear, in two languages, SJPD’s mission is public safety, not immigration enforcement.
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