Kevin Cohen is the CEO and co-founder of RealEye, a startup based in Tel Aviv. Today, he’s showcasing his company’s tools aimed at making America’s borders safer.
On his screen, photos of diverse individuals appear. “We gather information from countless online sources to evaluate if someone might be a threat,” Cohen explains. “In seconds, we can analyze 50,000 individuals and provide insights on their behavior.”
RealEye has created two AI-driven tools: Masad and Fortress. These systems monitor and vet immigrants as they enter a country, whether legally or not. They check more than just criminal records—they also analyze social media footprints and activities on the dark web.
Cohen highlights the profile of a person named Yosef, whose past is displayed as bullet points. “This person sends money to Hamas,” Cohen claims. “We can tell he’s a risk.”
As Donald Trump prepares for his second presidential term, he’s set to prioritize a significant deportation operation from day one. His strategies for securing the Southern border include creating a hotline for tips on undocumented migrants and building a large immigration detention center along the Rio Grande.
Trump has also indicated he may continue building a tall fence along the US-Mexico border. He has aimed to declare illegal immigration a national emergency, which could secure funding for border wall construction.
In December, Trump supported legal efforts to stop the Biden administration from disposing of border wall materials. While he looks to reinstate certain projects, like floating barriers on the Rio Grande, these ideas are already underway; Texas Governor Greg Abbott has begun constructing buoy barriers despite federal challenges.
AI strategies like those from RealEye will likely play a key role in bolstering border security. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has already set aside $5 million in its 2025 budget to focus on AI, and DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has called AI a “transformative technology.”
Another company to watch is Bavovna AI, a Ukrainian startup developing AI-powered drones. These drones are designed to navigate tricky environments, making them less susceptible to interference from cartels that use GPS jammers.
Bavovna AI’s co-founder, Pramax Prasolov, says they are considering ways to support border security initiatives. Recently, they showcased their technology to officials from the Department of Defense and the Air Force.
“These drones offer more than surveillance—they are about operational superiority in challenging situations,” Prasolov notes. He believes electronic warfare will be vital for border security moving forward.
AI isn’t a new concept at the border. During Biden’s presidency, there were pushes for “smart border” technologies. The House even passed a bipartisan bill to encourage the DHS to look into using AI and other advanced technologies for border security.
The Trump administration seems ready to embrace these technologies, aiming to ramp up AI surveillance systems along the border. As Trump plans to overturn Biden’s AI safety regulations, this could lead to a more aggressive use of AI in securing borders.
Improving AI infrastructure is already on the agenda, including a proposed investment to enhance surveillance tower capabilities. These towers will be able to detect unauthorized crossings and differentiate between people, animals, and vehicles. Under Trump, this initiative might see major expansion, turning a physical wall into a comprehensive digital security network.
Additionally, “robodogs” are on the horizon. Created for complex terrains, these robotic devices are still being tested by the DHS but show promise for border security, with Trump showing enthusiasm for deploying them.
Concerns arise over these technologies being misused. With some robodogs previously weaponized, there’s worry that similar fates could befall new technologies. However, Ghost Robotics assures their creations will only be used for patrolling.
RealEye’s vetting technology is more extensive than current methods. Cohen argues existing strategies mainly focus on biometric data, which isn’t enough to catch dangerous individuals trying to exploit immigration systems. They aim to assess digital histories more thoroughly before anyone arrives in the US.
Machine-learning tools offer the ability to spot patterns that might go unnoticed by border agents. These technologies can also analyze communications in various languages to pinpoint potential threats or unusual activities near the border.
Despite the promise of these tools, there are critics. Shepelsky worries that AI could misjudge individuals based on their social media activity, potentially discriminating against those with opposing political views or certain religious beliefs.
Cohen believes fears about AI misuse are misplaced. He emphasizes that they focus on individuals involved in serious criminal activities, not those seeking a better life. His motivation is personal; as a teenager, he lived next to one of the September 11 attackers. “That’s why we’re doing this,” he concludes. “To keep people like him from entering our country.”
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