We are in the middle of a huge boom in artificial intelligence (AI), with unprecedented investment in research, a supercharged pace of innovation and sky-high expectations. But what is driving this boom? Kalluri et al.1 provide an answer, at least for the sector of computer vision, in which machines automatically glean information from static and moving images. Their map of computer-vision research reveals an intimate relationship between academic research and surveillance applications created for the military, the police and profit-driven corporations.
Competing Interests
The author declares no competing interests.
