A Somerville-based tech startup, founded by MIT graduates, is transforming how law enforcement agencies share and analyze crime data with an innovative AI-powered app. Multitude Insights, launched in 2022 by Matt White and Akihiko Izu, aims to replace outdated paper bulletins, emailed PDFs, and faxed alerts with a streamlined digital platform that enhances collaboration and uncovers hidden connections between crimes.
The company’s flagship software, BLTN, allows officers to create digital crime bulletins using intuitive templates, selecting crime categories, adding details, and uploading photos or videos. Unlike traditional methods, BLTN’s AI analyzes reports across jurisdictions, identifying patterns such as similar vehicles, methods, or even distinctive clothing—like a baseball cap worn by a credit card scammer in California, as noted by White. The system then alerts detectives to related incidents, boosting efficiency in investigations. Boston, Brookline, and Watertown police departments are among dozens across 10 states piloting the app, though none provided comments for this story.
In one notable case, BLTN linked incidents in two states involving a domestic terrorist group targeting weather radars, enabling cross-agency collaboration that might have been missed otherwise. “Large agencies like Boston or Seattle often struggle with internal communication,” White said during a demonstration at Multitude’s Teele Square office. “We’ve turned a chaotic, ad hoc process into a searchable, actionable database.”
White, a former Naval intelligence officer, drew inspiration from a Boston police ride-along during his MIT Sloan School studies, where he observed inefficiencies in the bulletin system. “I spent years sifting signal from noise in the Navy,” he said. “This is about helping officers focus on what matters most.” Co-founder Izu, a Japanese lawyer with a Harvard Kennedy School background, brings legal and ethical perspectives to ensure the platform aligns with public safety goals.
Multitude has raised over $5 million from investors, including Commonweal Ventures, to expand its reach. The software avoids controversial AI facial recognition, a deliberate choice due to national policy uncertainties and bias concerns, as White explained: “It’s a business decision to steer clear until regulations are clearer.” Instead, BLTN focuses on pattern recognition to connect crimes without compromising privacy.
Dean Esserman, former New Haven police chief and a Multitude advisor, praised the app’s potential to alleviate information overload. “Officers rarely have time to dig through reports for connections,” he said. “This software does that work, linking cases and evidence efficiently.”
As police use of AI faces scrutiny, Multitude’s approach offers a balanced solution, modernizing law enforcement workflows while prioritizing transparency. With its growing adoption, the startup is poised to redefine how agencies combat crime, making bulletin boards and fax machines relics of the past.
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