Authorities in China are deploying AI-powered robot police officers that measure nearly six feet in height and are equipped with high-definition cameras and advanced sensors.

One robot, which appears to be a female officer, is currently patrolling Wuhan's streets. Named R001, the robots are designed to monitor and manage both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Comparable robotic officers have been stationed across other Chinese cities, including Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Shanghai.

A police instructor reveals that these robots work alongside human traffic personnel, or can function autonomously by linking to traffic light systems. Whilst the robocops aren't designed for speed or intimidation, they represent a vital component in China's wider strategy to demonstrate its robotics prowess and normalise the presence of machines in daily life.

Since 2015, when the Chinese government identified robotics as a priority sector for supremacy, the nation's robots have swiftly moved from manufacturing plants into civilian uses. Output reached 595,000 industrial robots and 13.5 million service robots during the first nine months of last year.

Morgan Stanley predicts China's robotics industry will reach $108 billion by 2028. Presently, over 150 companies produce humanoid robots.

The robotics excitement here is also driven by government-backed promotional campaigns. Social media platforms feature videos of robots performing kicks and executing remarkable manoeuvres.

Beijing hosted its first World Humanoid Robot Games last year, showcasing robots of different designs taking part in competitions ranging from football to luggage management.

Presently, efforts are concentrated on developing embodied AI to produce robotic intelligence that can both think and interact with humans.

With China's ageing demographic and declining birth rates, robots and humanoids are poised to revolutionise work and daily life, rendering the patrolling robocops deployed in Wuhan simply a preview of what lies ahead.

Technology is infiltrating law enforcement in the US as well.

Police forces have quickly embraced AI technology for numerous purposes, from drafting police reports to facial recognition programmes.

The results have been varied, on one instance forcing the police department in Heber City, Utah, to explain why report-writing software suggested that an officer had mysteriously turned into a frog.

According to Salt Lake City-based Fox 13, the defective system appears to have picked up some unrelated background chatter to construct its fanciful fictional account.

"The body cam software and the AI report writing software picked up on the movie that was playing in the background, which happened to be 'The Princess and the Frog,'" police sergeant Rick Keel told the broadcaster, referencing Disney's 2009 musical comedy. "That's when we learned the importance of correcting these AI-generated reports."

The department had begun trialling an AI-powered programme called Draft One to automatically generate police reports from body camera footage.

The aim was to reduce paperwork - but given that substantial errors are getting through, results clearly vary.