Valley of Shadows

In Akron, Ohio, murder cases that went cold for years are suddenly being solved. But defense attorney Don Malarcik isn’t celebrating; he’s alarmed. The key evidence in these cases is coming from a mysterious AI tool called Cybercheck, a system so secretive that its founder refuses to explain the details of how the technology actually works. Allegedly, Cybercheck uses open-source data to place suspects at crime scenes without the need for witnesses — and while no one, not even prosecutors, understand how it works — it’s being increasingly embraced by U.S. police services and placing people in prison cells across the country. As Cybercheck continues to spread, Don teams up with a concerned network of lawyers, investigators, and journalists to unravel what’s really powering this so-called breakthrough in crime-solving. What they find is a tangled story of lies, unvetted tech, and a charismatic Canadian entrepreneur whose invention operates in a black box. From the makers of Sea of Lies, this season of Uncover: The Expert Witness asks what happens when AI enters the courtroom? Who is benefitting from this mysterious technology? And who’s accountable when AI gets it wrong? More episodes of Uncover are available here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.