What a ride it’s been. I’m awestruck by the journey over the last three decades — a journey filled with challenges and triumphs, rewarded by the sheer scale of what we’ve built. What started as a seemingly impossible vision has evolved into a transformative reality. I’m immensely proud to stand with the extraordinary team we have today, knowing that together, we’ve sparked — and continue to ignite — a revolution in public safety.

Our first giant leap began with the TASER weapon, a device designed to stop threats without taking lives. From humble beginnings in a garage to now standing shoulder to shoulder with a team of over 3,000, our mission to Protect Life remains our unwavering North Star. Every decision we make, every product we develop, is guided by a deep moral compass that drives our innovation.

If there’s one lesson I’ve learned from this experience, it’s that meaningful change takes time — and it’s worth it, because the societal impact can be profound. As we look toward the coming years at Axon, we are on the brink of a new era in public safety — one where we can protect even more lives in more places. The same spark I felt 30 years ago is now ignited within our entire organization, making us unstoppable in our efforts to continue this journey to create meaningful change for the future.

This is why we are committed to building the leading operating system for public safety, an unparalleled suite of connected products and partnerships designed to help public safety professionals do their jobs more effectively and efficiently. This new era began in 2023 — on our 30th anniversary — with the launch of TASER 10 and our ambitious Moonshot 50in10 goal to cut gun-related deaths between police and the public in half by 2033. But to truly fulfill our mission to Protect Life, we must do more.

As with anything that involves societal impact, this next phase will be complex, but I find our vision helpful to break it down in three simple phases: how can technology help public safety observe, communicate, and act. Our extensive network of cameras and sensors can all now live stream, allowing an entire agency to observe what is happening in real-time. We are also enabling new modes of communication and, when its time to act, we are giving agencies both new capabilities and next level training to improve human performance under pressure in high stakes events.

The common denominator across this new era is clear — technology will be the guiding point to save more lives. As we look to the future, we look to optimize real-time operations, advance drones and robotics and leverage smarter software and artificial intelligence and in doing so, enable public safety to observe, communicate and act like they have never done before. We also continue to identify how our solutions can serve a broader range of public safety professionals with an aim to protect more lives in more places.

Saving Seconds, Saves Lives

Our eyes convey more in seconds than words can express in hours. Yet today, public safety still relies heavily on radio communication — functional, but far from optimal. That’s why our Axon Ecosystem is moving toward real-time operations – a network of cameras, sensors and software enabling public safety professionals to visualize and communicate more clearly than ever before. But the true value lies in visualizing multiple views, perspectives and locations on a “single pane of glass.” Live video alerts from officer body cameras, dash cam feeds, parking lot security CCTV and even a bird’s-eye view from drones can be accessible in the field, on mobile devices and centrally to emergency operators. While this may sound futuristic, this isn’t science fiction. It’s already serving public safety today.

Earlier this year, we acquired Fusus — the creators of real-time crime centers. The Fusus platform integrates our Axon Ecosystem into the fabric of communities, connecting to any camera system and enabling live-feed sharing and sensor integration, along with open data integrations with more than 70 leading technology partners. It links hundreds of camera and computer-aided dispatch providers, all under the owner’s control but shareable with public safety in emergencies, creating an effective and seamless connection between communities and public safety.

This level of operational intelligence is critical for agencies to continuously improve response strategies and speed, leading to better outcomes. We believe the value of real-time operations will help solve incidents faster and accelerate our mission to Protect Life, both for community members and the brave first responders who risk their lives to keep our communities safe.

The Next Frontier in Public Safety

Scaling human resources and keeping people out of harm’s way is our next challenge. Today, the primary response to a dangerous situation is to send in human officers to de-escalate. But we envision a future where drones and robotics scale beyond what was imaginable just a few years ago, augmenting limited human resources in public safety and ultimately reducing the need to put officers directly in harm’s way. Drones, UAVs (uncrewed aerial vehicles) and other robotics are still emerging technologies in public safety, but we see them as critical to the future.

Our goal is to build the best end-to-end drone program for public safety, whether through partnerships, innovation or acquisitions. With our mission to Protect Life guiding us, we believe robotics offer a remarkable opportunity to transform public safety. It’s our responsibility to explore opportunities for remotely operated aerial and ground devices to support first responders and de-escalation efforts, while always ensuring human control. We will continue to innovate in this space, with the goal of saving more lives in more places.

As threats to safety increase in communities, so do calls for service. In contrast, as the need for more police work goes up, police resourcing is going down, with a marked trend in agencies having trouble recruiting. The International Association of Chiefs of Police have called the state of recruitment a crisis for law enforcement. As an organization, we ask ourselves how technology can help as one element to support public safety in this issue. Drones will play a key role in offsetting this issue, but officers need better holistic solutions to support their day-to-day practices.

Reducing Burdens, Enhancing Impact

In a world where public safety agencies are overwhelmed by administrative tasks and strained resources, artificial intelligence can provide vital resources that can keep officers focused on what matters most — protecting lives. We see a much different future when it comes to policework — one where there is way less paperwork, where we can force multiply officers and keep them focused on the most impactful, rewarding parts of the job — and where software really does save lives.

Draft One, our AI-powered incident report writer, utilizes generative artificial intelligence (AI) and audio from body-worn cameras. Draft One significantly cuts down the time officers spend on paperwork. We’ve learned that officers can dedicate up to 40% of their time to report writing. Now, imagine reclaiming those hours, freeing officers to concentrate on the most important aspects of their profession.

AI is not just another tool; it's the next revolution in public safety. We're changing the future of public safety by integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning into new innovations that have the ability to supercharge law enforcement while keeping human oversight front and center. When done right, AI-driven tools don’t just handle data — they transform it.

We're relentlessly committed to responsible innovation, partnering with top experts to continuously push the boundaries of what technology can do to support public safety. As we continue to innovate with AI, we believe in its tremendous power of turning raw data into actionable intelligence, enabling officers to act swiftly and precisely, preventing threats before they escalate. In a world of limited resources, AI makes every moment and action count, helping to keep communities safer and more connected.

But we also recognize the dual challenge that comes with this power: as crime intersects with advanced technology, law enforcement must become experts in AI and how to deploy it responsibly. This is where Axon’s commitment to responsible AI comes into play. By prioritizing ethical AI development, we enable public safety leaders to build trust, protect lives and shape a future where technology and ethics go hand in hand to create safer communities. We will continue to innovate and bring new solutions to our customers so they can focus on their intended purpose: Keeping their communities safe.

Mastering New Innovations

Throughout history, those who have mastered their craft have always been the most successful. That’s why training remains at the heart of everything we do. As we innovate, it’s crucial to rethink how we train to master new technologies. Training doesn’t end in the classroom; it must be consistent and ongoing. We believe virtual reality can be that solution. TASER VR controllers and simulator training offer a true-to-life experience to help officers gain confidence in high-pressure situations. In less than a year, officers across the country have deployed over 1 million TASER cartridges in VR, yielding a cost savings of $20 million that would have otherwise been spent on live-fire cartridges.

What an incredible journey it has been. As we forge ahead, I am energized by the strides we’ve made and the vision we continue to pursue. Our mission to innovate and enhance public safety is as clear and compelling as ever. With each new advancement, we are setting new standards for what’s possible, making it easier for first responders to do their vital work more effectively and safely. Our commitment to cutting-edge technology and moral integrity drives us forward, ensuring we remain at the forefront of this transformative era. Together, we are not only shaping the future of public safety but also saving lives and protecting communities. The road ahead is filled with opportunity, and I am excited to see how our continued innovation will make a difference in the years to come.