The Motorola Solutions Podcast

In the final installment of this episode, Stephen Kennedy explores the shift from AI as a call-taker's assistant to autonomous agents managing non-emergency workflows. Kennedy addresses dispatcher anxieties, culture-driven adoption and the reality that over 65% of call center volume consists of non-emergent issues — such as stray animals, permit requests or low-acuity traffic reports. He outlines critical deployment guardrails, the necessity of seamless human escalation options and why AI is ...

Stephen Kennedy reveals how live AI tools like real-time transcription and summarization are fundamentally altering the speed and structure of 911 dispatch operations. Instead of waiting on rigid, step-by-step handoffs, dispatchers are actively innovating — using live transcripts to verify locations, search call details and stage additional resources before a call is even finished. Kennedy highlights how these context-aware workflows help resolve caller friction, like redundant address ...

In emergency response, every second counts, but speed alone doesn't save lives. So how do we move public safety beyond the stopwatch and start measuring what truly matters? Stephen Kennedy joins Mahesh to re-examine quality assurance, call performance and the real-world impact of AI inside the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). Discover how visual transcription is revolutionizing supervisory reviews, why automated translation is eliminating agonizing delays for non-English callers and how ...

Stephen Kennedy returns to dive into how next-generation technology transforms raw 911 data into actionable intelligence — and how to build infrastructure resilient enough to handle it. From smart live transcription and AI summarization to hardware redundancy during Florida hurricanes, Stephen explains how public safety systems are evolving to keep dispatchers, radio operators and first responders aligned. The conversation also explores the rise of IoT alerts, drone integrations and the core ...

What happens when every alarm in a 911 center sounds like a top priority? Nothing gets prioritized. In this episode, Stephen Kennedy joins Mahesh to unpack the hidden crisis facing modern emergency response: information overload. Discover why adding more screens and notifications can actually slow down response times, how Sumter County built an ingenious non-emergency pipeline to solve staffing shortages and considerations on how to safely deploy live video and drone programs to dispatch floo...

When Stephen Kennedy was 16, he watched his grandmother suffer a stroke. Helpless in that moment, he made a promise never to feel unprepared again. That single moment launched a career spanning every corner of public safety: volunteer firefighter, paramedic, police officer, 911 dispatcher and now Assistant County Administrator. In this episode, Stephen takes us behind the console to reveal what it really takes to coordinate emergency response — from filtering through chaotic data during multi...

Every 911 call creates a mountain of data — but more often than not, that data gets buried in messy text notes and trapped in siloed systems. What happens when we unlock it? In the finale of our four-part series, public safety expert Ty Wooten joins Mahesh to map out the practical future of AI in emergency communications. This isn't about replacing the human element; instead, it’s about removing the technical friction holding it back. From using AI to run realistic crisis simulations that pre...

A traffic accident isn't just an accident. It is a shifting data puzzle that might require police, extraction crews, hazardous materials cleanup or advanced medical trauma units. Navigating that uncertainty requires a flawless standard of care. In part three of our conversation with Ty Wooten, we dissect the underlying architecture of structured protocols and explore dispatch’s next evolution: AI as an "operational shield." By automating lower-acuity calls, agencies can redirect up to 33% of ...

"The fact that Uber and Domino's can literally know where you're standing to pick you up on the corner, and the fact that we don't still have that level of accuracy in location natively in 911, is probably the most frustrating part ..." What actually happens after you dial 911 and press the green button? In part two of our deep dive with emergency communications expert Ty Wooten, ENP, we pull back the curtain on the hidden, high-stakes choreography inside the Public Safety Answering Point (PS...

"When someone calls 911, they don't care that you work for an agency that only dispatches for police or fire. They expect that someone there knows exactly what they're supposed to know and how to handle that situation... Most people will only call 911 two or three times in their lifetime. It's one of the most difficult days of their lives, and you have to have the answers." In this first part of a four-part series, Ty Wooten, Director of Government Affairs at the International Academies...

In the final installment of our series, cognitive psychologist Dr. Harriet Rowthorn joins Mahesh to tackle one of the most complex hurdles in artificial intelligence: building and calibrating human trust. We explore why common transparency tools, like confidence scores, often fail to improve human judgment and how trust is built through repeated, personalized interaction over time. Dr. Rowthorn delves into the "black box" of AI, the ethical necessity for transparency and why designing systems...

In the third part of our series, cognitive psychologist Dr. Harriet Rowthorn joins Mahesh to explore the profound impact of AI on human learning and cognitive development. We dive into the critical distinction between using AI as a "mind replacement" — outsourcing critical thinking and planning — and using it as a "mind extender" that enhances our ability to personalize learning and ask better questions. Dr. Rowthorn shares her personal experience with AI as a mentor-like guide and explains w...

In the second part of our series, cognitive psychologist Dr. Harriet Rowthorn returns to move from the foundations of memory into a more specific set of questions: what happens when AI enters the loop of human recall? We explore why AI can be so dangerous when memory is already fragile — examining how plausible errors, confidence and "processing fluency" can make inaccurate information feel trustworthy — and why this is such a sticky problem. We also look at the other side of the equation: wh...

In this first part of a four-part series, cognitive psychologist and behavioral scientist Dr. Harriet Rowthorn joins the show to discuss the fundamental nature of human memory. Moving away from the common "video recording" analogy, Hattie explains how memory is actually a reconstructive, forward-facing system shaped by attention, emotion and mental frameworks. The conversation explores how these psychological insights are critical for high-stakes environments like the criminal justice system ...

This episode continues our conversation with Professor Krzysztof Gajos, diving deep into the foundational challenges of integrating AI into high-stakes, mission-critical environments. We move beyond simple performance metrics to examine socio-technical systems—the complex interplay of technology, people, policies and liability that truly shapes outcomes in public safety and other critical fields. Professor Gajos introduces the “Dynamite Problem” analogy to caution against treating powerful AI...

In the first of a two-part conversation, Mahesh welcomes Professor Krzysztof Gajos, lead of the Intelligent Interactive Systems Group at Harvard, to challenge the common assumption that human + AI is always better than either alone. Professor Gajos takes us deep into the fascinating, messy problem space of human-AI collaboration, revealing these configurations to be inherently fragile and contingent. The discussion dissects how specific design failures—including over-reliance on incorrect adv...

"Will AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) be achieved faster by humans working with machines? I actually think that is true. And it's almost a mistake to think of machines as operating only by themselves." In this episode, Mahesh speaks with Professor James Landay, a leading expert in human-computer interaction and co-founder of the Human-Centered AI Institute at Stanford. This episode explores the complexities of designing AI systems for high-stakes environments like public safety an...

“A police report isn't merely a record; it can be a memory aid, a legal artifact, a shield or even a performance.” Join us as Mahesh welcomes back Professor Martin Holbraad, a leading anthropologist and director of the Ethnographic Insights Lab at University College London. This episode delves into the idea that anthropology offers more than cultural interpretation; it provides a radically different way of thinking about systems. Using frameworks like actor-network theory, you’re invit...

In this episode, Mahesh and leading anthropologist Professor Martin Holbraad of University College London’s Ethnographic Insights Lab unravel the transformative power of anthropology. Far more than just studying cultures, anthropology – through its deep ethnographic research – unveils a powerful truth: to build truly effective AI, you must first understand the very fabric of human knowledge. This is more than just studying cultures; it’s about redefining what it means to design for a world wh...

In the second episode of Mahesh the Geek, Mahesh is joined by Dr. Read Hayes, executive director of the Loss Prevention Research Council (LPRC), as they explore the evolution of loss prevention, emphasizing the importance of prevention over response in public safety. They discuss the integration of technology, such as AI and body-worn cameras, in enhancing crime detection and prevention. The dialogue also highlights the significance of collaboration between retailers and law enforcement, the ...

In the debut episode of Mahesh the Geek, Motorola Solutions EVP & CTO Mahesh Saptharishi is joined by Brigadier General (ret.) Patrick Huston, who shares his unique journey from military service to becoming a legal expert in AI and cybersecurity. Mahesh and Patrick delve into topics such as: Human-machine teaming, regulatory challenges, AI's impact on intellectual property law and fair use, the need for AI risk management standards, cyber risks, open source LLM security and licensing conc...

Mahesh Saptharishi is the chief technology officer at Motorola Solutions, and a person obsessively interested in all things tech. A geek is one who is knowledgeable and obsessed, and this podcast is Mahesh’s attempt to seek knowledge. Mahesh the Geek will delve into the core of mission-critical AI – technology that safeguards lives, communities and essential daily services. In this series, we'll be exploring the science, the challenges and the incredible potential of AI when it matters...