Orlando, FL – Today at the APCO AI Summit, APCO International announced the creation of a new operational standard titled Best Practices for Artificial Intelligence Integration into the Emergency Communications Center (ECC). APCO has issued a call for participation for the standard, which will provide best practices for ECCs to implement artificial intelligence (AI). It will discuss various integrations and outline both operational and training aspects, including considerations for the following topics: alleviating ECC challenges, training, cybersecurity, ethical and legal considerations, mental health support for public safety telecommunicators (PSTs), and implementation considerations.
Industry professionals, technology experts, emergency communications specialists and stakeholders are invited to participate in this groundbreaking effort to shape the future of AI in emergency communications. Interested participants can contribute their expertise to ensure this standard reflects real-world operational needs and promotes safe, effective AI integration that enhances emergency response capabilities while protecting both the public and the dedicated professionals who serve them.
“This initiative addresses the urgent need for standardization as AI technology rapidly expands within emergency communications equipment and operations,” said Jack Varnado, president of APCO International. “As AI adoption accelerates across the emergency communications sector, this collaborative effort represents a pivotal opportunity to establish unified best practices that will benefit centers nationwide.”
Once established, this working group will meet virtually twice a month—on the first and third Tuesdays at 1 p.m. ET—for 50 minutes each. To apply, complete the online application at Join a Working Group. Participants in an APCO standards working group will earn points toward their Registered Public-Safety Leader (RPL) recertification and receive recognition for their contributions to the final published standard.
The deadline to sign up is October 31. Selections will be made within two weeks of the closing date, and all will be notified of their status via email. For more information contact contact APCO Standards at [email protected], or visit our website.
APCO International® (www.apcointl.org)
APCO International is the world’s oldest and largest organization of public safety communications professionals and supports the largest U.S. membership base of any public safety association. It serves the needs of public safety communications practitioners worldwide – and the welfare of the general public as a whole – by providing complete expertise, professional development, technical assistance, advocacy and outreach.
