Axon unveils Body 5 police body camera with 25x AI processing power

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US public safety technology company Axon (Nasdaq: AXON) announced on October 24 its next-generation body-worn camera, Body 5, the first time the company has offered two versions of its flagship camera at once: Body 5 and Body 5 Pro.

According to the company's press release, Body 5 delivers 25 times the AI processing power of earlier-generation Axon cameras, with battery life 20 percent longer than the previous generation, plus upgraded connectivity, audio and video, so AI features can run on the device during a call rather than only in playback afterwards.

The Pro version adds a near-focus camera that can scan driver's licenses to check their status and warrants, four front-facing speakers for clearer translation and communication, and additional memory to run several AI tools at the same time.

Axon also detailed Axon Guardian, a set of real-time AI capabilities: escalation detection that sends alerts to Axon Fusus for human review, and approach alerts that warn an officer if a stopped vehicle's door opens.

Axon founder and CEO Rick Smith said officers should not have to choose between getting information and watching the scene: an officer who scans a document with the camera, keeps hands free and eyes up, is a safer officer and serves the community better.

One caution: the 25x processing figure and battery claim are company assertions, and general availability dates for both cameras and for Guardian have not been announced; Axon says they will come later, so real-world performance remains to be verified.