Will AI replace Public Safety Telecommunicators?
AI can do 93% of the work Public Safety Telecommunicators do at least twice as fast. People already use it for 1 of their 18 tasks, while 12 more are ready but barely used so far. 5 still need a person.
AI is already doing this1 · 5% of time
People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.
- Read and effectively interpret small-scale maps and information from a computer screen to determine locations and provide directions.Mostly automated5% of time
AI could do this next12 · 89% of time
AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.
- Determine response requirements and relative priorities of situations, and dispatch units in accordance with established procedures.16% of time
- Question callers to determine their locations and the nature of their problems to determine type of response needed.16% of time
- Receive incoming telephone or alarm system calls regarding emergency and non-emergency police and fire service, emergency ambulance service, information, and after-hours calls for departments within a city.11% of time
- Record details of calls, dispatches, and messages.9% of time
- Relay information and messages to and from emergency sites, to law enforcement agencies, and to all other individuals or groups requiring notification.8% of time
- Monitor various radio frequencies, such as those used by public works departments, school security, and civil defense, to stay apprised of developing situations.8% of time
- Enter, update, and retrieve information from teletype networks and computerized data systems regarding such things as wanted persons, stolen property, vehicle registration, and stolen vehicles.6% of time
- Scan status charts and computer screens, and contact emergency response field units to determine emergency units available for dispatch.5% of time
- Answer routine inquiries, and refer calls not requiring dispatches to appropriate departments and agencies.5% of time
- Learn material and pass required tests for certification.3% of time
- Maintain access to, and security of, highly sensitive materials.1% of time
- Maintain files of information relating to emergency calls, such as personnel rosters and emergency call-out and pager files.1% of time
Still needs a person5 · 7% of time
No real AI use, no proven AI speedup and no robot that can do it yet. This is the part of the job to build on.
- Provide emergency medical instructions to callers.3% of time
- Observe alarm registers and scan maps to determine whether a specific emergency is in the dispatch service area.1% of time
- Monitor alarm systems to detect emergencies, such as fires and illegal entry into establishments.1% of time
- Test and adjust communication and alarm systems, and report malfunctions to maintenance units.1% of time
- Operate and maintain mobile dispatch vehicles and equipment.under 1% of time
Your week is not the average
Describe what you actually do and get a personal report: your own tasks, what AI can already do, what stays yours and a 90 day plan.
What this means
AI can already do almost all of this work at least twice as fast. Real use is still behind at 5 out of 100, so the change here is only getting started. Expect the role to shift toward deciding what to do, checking AI's work and owning the result.
What to do next
- Do the 1 task AI is already handling with AI yourself. Your peers already are, and it is quickly becoming the baseline.
- Get ahead on the 12 tasks AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
- Build on the 5 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
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