About This Episode
CBC Podcasts' award-winning Canadian true crime series Uncover released a new episode on May 17, 2026, titled The Expert Witness, placing artificial intelligence at the center of a legal and ethical debate that is reshaping criminal justice systems across the globe. Hosted by Sam Mullins, the episode examines how AI technology is being used — and misused — as a source of evidence and as a de facto witness in modern criminal cases.
AI Moves Into the Courtroom
The timing of The Expert Witness could hardly be more pointed. In May 2026, Google revealed that criminal groups are already actively using large language models to identify zero-day vulnerabilities in companies and institutions — security flaws that can be exploited before developers are even aware they exist. That disclosure raises a fundamental question: if AI can be used to commit crimes, can it also be called upon to testify about them?
The discussion is far from hypothetical. In the state of Florida, a live legal dispute is currently unfolding over whether an AI service can bear criminal responsibility in connection with a homicide case — a case that challenges core assumptions about accountability, consciousness, and legal personhood. AI crime justice system
A Series With a Proven Track Record
Uncover is no newcomer to the true crime landscape. Produced by CBC Podcasts and launched in 2018, the series has built a strong reputation for deeply reported, journalistically rigorous investigations into cases that put justice systems under pressure. Previous seasons have examined police corruption, failed investigations, and systemic breakdowns — always with an approach that prioritizes facts over drama.
With The Expert Witness, the series moves into new territory where technology and law converge. Host Sam Mullins is known for his ability to make complex systems accessible to a broad audience, and the new episode follows the same formula: thorough research, precise questions, and a clear narrative structure. true crime podcast reviews
Technology as a Double-Edged Sword
The episode arrives amid a broader global conversation about AI's dual role in the crime landscape. On one side, the technology is being used to commit new categories of crime — from AI-assisted cyberattacks to deepfake fraud. On the other, justice systems around the world are struggling to determine how AI-generated evidence, analyses, and testimony should be weighted legally.
In many countries, clear frameworks for how algorithmic tools may be used as a basis for evidence in criminal trials are still largely absent. As law enforcement agencies increasingly rely on AI-driven analytical tools in their investigations, the need for transparent and enforceable guidelines grows more urgent by the day. technology and criminal investigation
The Questions the Episode Raises
The Expert Witness is not only asking questions about technology — it is asking questions about justice. Can a system without consciousness deliver reliable testimony? Who is accountable if an AI analysis leads to a wrongful conviction? And how do we ensure that the blind spots built into these systems do not reproduce and amplify existing inequalities within the justice process?
These are questions that Uncover places squarely in the public debate with this episode — and that justice systems from Florida to Frankfurt will sooner or later be forced to answer.
The Expert Witness from Uncover is available on Apple Podcasts and all major podcast platforms.
