Law enforcement agencies across the country are increasingly using AI-powered drones for pursuits, investigations and emergencies — including in San Francisco.

Why it matters: Local police and sheriffs departments are facing chronic staffing shortages amid pressures to reduce violent crime. AI-powered drones can do some police work, but using them raises new questions about surveillance and privacy.

State of play: 1,500 police and sheriff's departments were flying drones by late 2024 — a 150% jump since 2018.

• San Francisco police could not be reached for comment by deadline.

The big picture: An Axios analysis found that almost every major metropolitan area in the U.S. has a law enforcement agency with a drone system, even if the largest city has yet to adopt the technology or publicly announce its use.

Zoom in: San Francisco police began using drones after voters approved Proposition E in March 2024.

• In June, the department accepted a $9.4 million donation to expand its drone program and add 10 new drone take-off sites.

How it works: Police deploy drones to locate missing persons, read license plates, monitor crowds, reconstruct accident scenes and assess active shooter events — giving them unprecedented real-time aerial views and data.

• The most recent drone flight log from August shows that San Francisco police used the technology in 94 incidents, including crimes like robberies, narcotics sales, stolen vehicles and vandalism.

The intrigue: The AI-powered drones are equipped with various cameras and sensors and are more powerful than a standard human-operated drone.

• Some being used by police can monitor ground radar, air quality and even vital signs — including heart rate, breathing, blood pressure and oxygen levels from 500 meters away, Cameron Chell, CEO of Canadian drone-maker Draganfly, told Axios.

By the numbers: SF police say drones are helping drive down crime, which fell 28% in 2024 and is down another 30% as of April.

But as police across the country increasingly use drones, it remains unclear how law enforcement is using that data or what's happening to the data in the hands of private companies, Beryl Lipton, senior investigative researcher at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, told Axios.

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Oasis nightclub's final rendition of "The Rocky Horror Show" is officially underway, and it's bittersweet, to say the least.

The big picture: The immersive show is the longtime LGBTQ mainstay's final hurrah before it closes at the end of the year.

The vibe: The excitement starts before you even enter the club, with cast members plucking two people out of the line to star in a brief cameo.

• The first room you enter serves as an intro to our main characters, Brad and Janet. The second features a bar with a variety of drink options and a dance floor near the stage.

💭 My thought bubble: The show leans into the camp and cheekiness, creating a vibrant atmosphere that had me joining the heckling and sing-alongs.

• Oasis owner D'Arcy Drollinger captivates as Frank-N-Furter, a character he said he has been rehearsing since he was 12, when he first watched the movie.

Behind the scenes: Rehearsals were emotional from the beginning, Drollinger told Axios ahead of opening night.

• "Everyone who's performing in it is very aware that this is the last time in this incarnation," he said.

That was certainly felt at the end of the show, when Drollinger thanked the audience and gave a rousing plea to "keep San Francisco f--king San Francisco."

ChatGPT will allow a wider range of content — eventually including erotica — now that OpenAI has completed work to enable the chatbot to better handle mental health issues, per CEO Sam Altman.

Why it matters: The move could boost OpenAI as it seeks to sign up consumers for paid subscriptions, but is also likely to increase pressure on lawmakers to enact meaningful regulations.

Driving the news: Altman wrote on X yesterday that OpenAI plans to allow ChatGPT to have more personality and fulfill previously blocked requests.

• "Now that we have been able to mitigate the serious mental health issues and have new tools, we are going to be able to safely relax the restrictions in most cases," Altman said.
• "In December...As part of our 'treat adult users like adults' principle, we will allow even more, like erotica for verified adults," he added.

The intrigue: The move comes as lawmakers are eyeing tighter restrictions on chatbot companions.

What to watch: People will be able to better dictate the tone and personality of ChatGPT in the coming weeks.

👀 How do you feel about this AI development? Hit reply to let us know.

🚫 Airports in San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland airports are refusing to show a TSA video in which Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blames Democrats for the government shutdown. (SF Chronicle)

💰 Salesforce will invest $15 billion in San Francisco over the next five years to fund a new AI incubator hub. (WSJ)

📈 San Francisco halted canine court — the city's semi-judicial dog bite arbitration process — in June, stalling dozens of cases with no clear plan to resume hearings even as dog bite reports rise. (SF Standard)

Investigators blame speeding — not another vehicle — for the car crash that killed four girls in Marin County in April. (SF Chronicle)

Ghirardelli's limited edition Dubai-style chocolate is hitting shelves this holiday season.

The big picture: The San Francisco-based company has created its own spin on the global TikTok trend, which originated with Dubai-based Fix Dessert Chocolatier's viral bars.

Driving the news: Ghirardelli's newest product combines milk chocolate, crisp kataifi pastry and a creamy pistachio filling.

• They're available online starting this week in bundles and individually wrapped portions.
• Ghirardelli chocolate shops and select retailers will carry the chocolates in coming weeks.

The intrigue: It's not the first time Ghirardelli has hopped on the Dubai chocolate bandwagon.

• The company offered a chocolate sundae inspired by the trend at retail locations nationwide earlier this year.