(MENAFN) Artificial intelligence is rapidly weaving its way into many sectors, and forensic science is now one of the fields feeling its impact. While the technology promises groundbreaking possibilities, it also raises difficult questions about reliability and ethics in criminal investigations.

“There are only three ways in which you can ever solve a murder,” said Robert Green, a professor and forensic scientist at the University of Kent in the UK. “One is by eyewitness testimony, one is by confession evidence and the rest is by science and technology. And if you look at the former … it tends not to be believed anymore.”

As noted by reports, experts argue that reliance on advanced tools is reshaping how crimes are solved, with AI emerging as a “real game changer.” This shift has been particularly significant in areas such as DNA profiling and fingerprint analysis. The remarks came during a major forensic science conference in Türkiye, which brought together hundreds of specialists from across the world.

With each technological leap, researchers are able to gather far more information from increasingly minuscule samples. For example, DNA testing can now begin with as little as 500 picograms—about 18 trillionths of an ounce—tiny traces that might cling to a pair of glasses or a wristwatch and remain invisible to the human eye.

However, extracting useful conclusions from such limited traces is far from simple. Green compared the process to “throwing two jigsaw puzzles into the air and trying to sort out the pieces.”

Deciphering mixed DNA samples requires immense processing power and precision, making the field a natural fit for artificial intelligence. The integration of vast databases with biometric information, experts say, has positioned AI as an essential future tool in forensic practice.

The technology is especially valuable in complex or traumatic cases, where evidence often comes in fragmented or overlapping forms. According to Green, AI has already begun to prove its worth, particularly in improving fingerprint identification, which has seen notable progress thanks to machine learning systems.

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