AI lessons from history – the pressure to perform, magic, and naked emperors

27th July 2026Richard Harding, Senior Research Fellow, CEEUPS, Anglia Ruskin University

Policing is coming under growing pressure to adopt the latest AI technologies in order to meet the ever-increasing demand; Anglia Ruskin University Senior Research Fellow Richard Harding warns that there are plenty of examples from history that highlight the need to empower police policy makers and practitioners to question the magical offerings of suppliers and to point out the ‘naked emperors’ managing projects, in order to protect themselves, their colleagues, their organisations, and the public they serve.

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AI lessons from history – the pressure to perform, magic, and naked emperors

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