AI, Drones, and Robots Move to Daily Duty as Cybersecurity and Reliable Networks Lead First Responder Priorities

Verizon Frontline Study: AI, Cybersecurity, Drones and Robots Are Rising Priorities for Public Safety Leaders

Nearly half of first responders expect to use AI and drones or robots every day within five years. The latest Verizon Frontline Public Safety Communications Survey also reports 78% see better field communications when they have a reliable, resilient network.

Now in its fifth year, the survey-commissioned by Verizon Frontline and conducted by Lexipol-captures how agencies are adopting mission-critical tech and where they're planning next. For Operations, PR and Communications teams, the message is clear: reliability first, automation next, cyber always.

Key numbers at a glance

• Daily drone/robot use: 15% today → 48% in five years.
• Daily AI use: 12% today → 46% in five years.
• Network impact: 78% say reliable, resilient connectivity improves field communications.
• Cybersecurity: 67% implemented new protections in the last year.
• Network priority: top need for day-to-day (65%-75%) and emergency response (64%-73%).
• AR/VR: 8% daily use today → 33% expected in five years.
• Experience mix: 57% of respondents have 20+ years in public safety.
• Roadmap signals: 20% cite connected vehicles as a top priority, second only to 5G.

What industry voices are saying

Verizon Frontline's survey reinforces that without dependable networks, advanced capabilities like priority and preemption lose value at the moment they're needed most, noted Alison Brooks, IDC Research VP, Worldwide Public Safety. She also observed a sharp year-over-year rise in AI interest and a projected tripling of drone usage over the next five years.

Maggie Hallbach, President, Verizon Frontline, emphasized that AI is improving situational awareness, while drones and robots extend access into remote or hazardous areas. Agencies are moving quickly on cyber, AI, and connectivity because downtime-whether from breaches, unreliable networks, or outdated tools-carries real risk.

Why this matters for Operations, PR and Communications

• Operations: Plan for AI-assisted dispatch, incident analysis, and drone-enabled assessments. Build clear SOPs for when and how these tools activate.
• PR/Comms: Prepare messaging on privacy, safety, and community impact. Get ahead of questions on AI accuracy and drone policy.
• Internal communications: Train field teams and PIOs on new workflows, cyber hygiene, and incident protocols when systems degrade.
• Stakeholder relations: Brief city leadership, unions, and community groups on benefits, safeguards, and measurable outcomes.

AI, drones and robots: practical use cases to operationalize

• Incident triage: AI summaries of 911 transcripts, CAD notes, and body-worn video to speed decision-making.
• Search and assessment: Drones for BVLOS missions where permitted, thermal imaging, and scene mapping.
• Hazmat and EOD: Ground robots for inspection, sample collection, and tool delivery.
• After-action: AI to transcribe, tag, and surface lessons learned across incidents.

Cybersecurity: actions to hold the line

• Baseline controls: MFA for all critical apps, endpoint protection, and least-privilege access.
• Vendor risk: Audit third-party platforms, require incident reporting SLAs, and conduct tabletop exercises.
• Backups and continuity: Test restores, segment networks, and document offline fallbacks for CAD/RMS.
• Frameworks: Map controls to the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and track progress quarterly.

Network reliability: make it non-negotiable

• Contract for redundancy: Multi-path connectivity, deployable assets, and coverage commitments.
• Prioritization: Ensure priority and preemption are configured and tested with real scenarios.
• Monitoring: Continuous visibility into uptime, latency, and failover performance.
• Playbooks: Document degraded-mode communication plans and train on them.

90-day action plan

• Run a joint Ops-IT-PIO tabletop covering a cyber outage and a network disruption; validate comms protocols.
• Pilot one AI use case (e.g., incident summarization) and one drone/robot workflow with clear success metrics.
• Update your public FAQ on AI, drones, data retention, and oversight; prepare media briefs and spokesperson notes.
• Audit vendor contracts for uptime SLAs, security clauses, and incident notification requirements.

Policy and compliance note: drones

Broader adoption is expected as rules evolve and waivers expand. Track FAA Part 107 waiver developments on visual line-of-sight to plan for expanded drone operations.

Budget and training implications

• Budget: Allocate for network resilience first, then AI pilots, drone/robot programs, and cyber controls.
• Skills: Upskill dispatchers, PIOs, and field supervisors on AI literacy, data privacy, and incident communications.
• Training resources: See practical AI upskilling paths by job to speed adoption.

Bottom line

The survey points to a near-term shift: daily AI and drone use, stronger cyber posture, and zero tolerance for network downtime. Agencies that build reliability first, communicate clearly, and pilot with discipline will get the benefits without the noise.

* Based on results of the 2025 Verizon Frontline Public Safety Communications Survey.