Taipei's subway system is putting AI-powered video monitoring into its security cameras, a safety upgrade for riders after a random stabbing attack.

• The contract has been awarded, and the first stage should be finished by the end of this year.
• It covers Taipei Main Station and the Zhongshan underground mall south of Zhongshan Station, with 280 cameras and 12 new computing servers.
• The software watches for smoke, fire, people falling, abandoned bags, knives or guns, and crowd build-ups, and alerts staff on the spot.
• A second stage would add the same system to 31 major transfer stations and 2,901 existing cameras, planned for 2027 to 2028.
• The push follows the December 19 random attack, part of a six-part safety plan covering emergency response, early warning, staff protective gear, and police and fire coordination.

Outlook: The first batch of cameras goes live by year-end, and how well it works will decide whether the system spreads to the rest of the network.