AI exposure score

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

Detectives and Criminal Investigators score 32 out of 100, which is moderate exposure to AI. That ranks #511 of 923 US occupations, where #1 is the most exposed. Of the 30 tasks in this job, AI could speed up 3 on its own and 13 more with extra software built on top of it. In April–May 2026, 7 of these tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, Anthropic's AI assistant.

32/ 100

Moderate

Rank: #511of 923 jobs
US workers: 114,430BLS, May 2025
Median pay: $93,790a year
In real AI use: 7 of 30tasks, April–May 2026

Free report

Follow how AI is changing detectives and criminal investigators work.

Subscribe to the weekly report and get The AI Job Exposure Report (PDF) right away: the most and least exposed jobs, exposure by field, and the AI-resilient jobs that pay well.

Free · one email a week · unsubscribe anytime

Task by task

Each task this job involves, as listed by O*NET, rated on whether a large language model like GPT-4 could cut the time it takes by at least half at the same quality. Tasks marked Seen in real AI use appeared in conversations with Claude in April–May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index).

AI can speed this up on its own: 3 (10%)
AI can speed this up with extra software: 13 (43%)
Little or no AI speed-up: 14 (47%)

Record progress of investigation, maintain informational files on suspects, and submit reports to commanding officer or magistrate to authorize warrants.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
Prepare reports that detail investigation findings.AI can speed this up on its own · core task · Seen in real AI use
Notify, or request notification of, medical examiner or district attorney representative.AI can speed this up on its own · core task
Obtain facts or statements from complainants, witnesses, and accused persons and record interviews, using recording device.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Prepare charges or responses to charges, or information for court cases, according to formalized procedures.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Preserve, process, and analyze items of evidence obtained from crime scenes and suspects, placing them in proper containers and destroying evidence no longer needed.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Note, mark, and photograph location of objects found, such as footprints, tire tracks, bullets and bloodstains, and take measurements of the scene.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Examine records and governmental agency files to find identifying data about suspects.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Provide information to lab personnel concerning the source of an item of evidence and tests to be performed.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Analyze completed police reports to determine what additional information and investigative work is needed.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Examine records to locate links in chains of evidence or information.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Determine scope, timing, and direction of investigations.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Obtain and verify evidence by interviewing and observing suspects and witnesses or by analyzing records.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task · Seen in real AI use
Identify case issues and evidence needed, based on analysis of charges, complaints, or allegations of law violations.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Maintain surveillance of establishments to obtain identifying information on suspects.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Perform undercover assignments and maintain surveillance, including monitoring authorized wiretaps.AI can speed this up with extra software · core task
Check victims for signs of life, such as breathing and pulse.Little or no AI speed-up · core task · Seen in real AI use
Secure deceased body and obtain evidence from it, preventing bystanders from tampering with it prior to medical examiner's arrival.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Obtain summary of incident from officer in charge at crime scene, taking care to avoid disturbing evidence.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Secure persons at scene, keeping witnesses from conversing or leaving the scene before investigators arrive.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Search for and collect evidence, such as fingerprints, using investigative equipment.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Prepare and serve search and arrest warrants.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Question individuals or observe persons and establishments to confirm information given to patrol officers.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Participate or assist in raids and arrests.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Organize scene search, assigning specific tasks and areas of search to individual officers and obtaining adequate lighting as necessary.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Summon medical help for injured individuals and alert medical personnel to take statements from them.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Notify command of situation and request assistance.Little or no AI speed-up · core task · Seen in real AI use
Block or rope off scene and check perimeter to ensure that entire scene is secured.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Collaborate with other offices and agencies to exchange information and coordinate activities.Little or no AI speed-up · core task
Testify before grand juries concerning criminal activity investigations.Little or no AI speed-up · core task

What you can do about it

Get a personal plan for what to learn next.

Skill Half Life turns this score into a 90-day plan for your situation: your realistic options, the skills that carry over, and training that fits your time and budget. Coming soon.

See your options

Similar jobs, lower exposure

Related occupations that score at least 10 points lower.

Bailiffs4

Other jobs in this field

Protective Service occupations close to this one.

All protective service jobs and AI

Questions about detectives and criminal investigators and AI

Will AI replace detectives and criminal investigators?

Unlikely. Most of the work is hard for today's AI to speed up. Detectives and Criminal Investigators score 32 out of 100 (moderate exposure), #511 of 923 US jobs. AI could speed up 16 of the job's 30 tasks, 3 of them on its own, while 14 see little or no speed-up. Exposure means the work is likely to change, not that the job will disappear.

Which detectives and criminal investigators tasks can AI do?

The most exposed tasks include "Record progress of investigation, maintain informational files on suspects, and submit reports to commanding officer or magistrate to authorize warrants"; "Prepare reports that detail investigation findings"; "Notify, or request notification of, medical examiner or district attorney representative".

Which detectives and criminal investigators tasks are hardest for AI?

Tasks with little or no AI speed-up include "Check victims for signs of life, such as breathing and pulse"; "Secure deceased body and obtain evidence from it, preventing bystanders from tampering with it prior to medical examiner's arrival"; "Obtain summary of incident from officer in charge at crime scene, taking care to avoid disturbing evidence".

Are people already using AI for this work?

Yes. In April–May 2026, 7 of the 30 tasks showed up in real conversations with Claude, according to the Anthropic Economic Index.

How many people work as detectives and criminal investigators, and what do they earn?

About 114,430 people in the US, with median pay of $93,790 a year (BLS, May 2025).

How to read this score. Exposure measures how much of the work AI could speed up, not whether the job will disappear. A highly exposed job can change shape, with people spending less time on routine tasks and more on the rest. The score counts tasks AI can speed up on its own in full, and tasks that need extra software at half weight.

The ratings come from published research based on GPT-4 (2023). To show what's happening now, each task is also checked against the latest Anthropic Economic Index, which records which tasks people actually use AI for. That data is refreshed automatically when Anthropic publishes a new release. Read the full method.