As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into public infrastructure and consumer technology, concerns over surveillance, privacy and accountability are gaining greater attention. AI-enabled surveillance systems can involve government agencies, private technology companies and third-party service providers. The use of proprietary platforms and automated systems can create questions about transparency, oversight and responsibility, particularly when technologies are used for monitoring or identification. AI-powered consumer devices, including smart glasses, have also raised privacy concerns. Features such as cameras, audio recording and AI-assisted identification can make it easier to capture information about people without their knowledge or consent. The broader concern is that surveillance capabilities may become increasingly common when they are incorporated into everyday consumer products. The expansion of connected infrastructure could further increase the amount of data generated in public spaces. Streets, offices, cafés, transport systems and other environments can increasingly include cameras, sensors and other technologies capable of collecting and processing information about movement and activity. AI-enabled street infrastructure, including smart lamp-posts and connected urban systems, is another area attracting attention. Technologies originally designed for lighting, traffic management or public safety may incorporate additional sensing and data-processing capabilities. Such developments raise questions about how the collected information is used, stored and accessed. Supporters of these technologies often point to potential benefits, including public safety, crime prevention, traffic management and assistance in locating missing persons. At the same time, privacy advocates have called for clear rules governing consent, data retention, facial recognition, access to information and independent oversight. One of the key challenges is finding an appropriate balance between technological innovation and individual privacy. Public acceptance of surveillance technologies can depend significantly on how they are presented and the safeguards accompanying their deployment. Another concern is that surveillance systems do not necessarily need to be completely accurate to influence behaviour. The perception that individuals may be monitored can affect how people communicate and conduct themselves in public spaces, making transparency and accountability important considerations. The wider debate, therefore, is not simply about whether artificial intelligence can contribute to public safety. It also concerns how societies establish limits on automated monitoring, how individuals can challenge the use of their data, and who remains accountable when surveillance systems are operated through complex combinations of public and private technology. As AI becomes more deeply integrated into everyday infrastructure, policymakers, technology companies and citizens will increasingly face the task of determining where the boundaries between security, convenience and privacy should be drawn.