Dallas uses AI cameras on garbage trucks to rate property blight

Dallas has implemented an AI system that uses cameras mounted on garbage trucks to assess property conditions and assign 'blight scores' based on violations of city regulations. The initiative, which began in April 2026 and expanded in the summer, has scanned over 21,000 properties, identifying issues such as overgrown grass, debris, and structural problems. The system assigns scores from 1 to 4, with some property owners receiving warnings. One resident criticized the penalty for a minor issue like peeling paint. City Detect, the company operating the cameras, claims it does not decide how data is used and blurs faces and license plates. Concerns about privacy and fairness have been raised by residents, who fear the system may unfairly target low-income areas. The system has faced past errors, such as misidentifying a snack as a weapon. Dallas has issued 1,800 warnings and plans to issue about 5,200 annually.