Japan's National Police Agency is now using artificial intelligence in its cyber patrols to detect online information that could lead to crimes.

Previously, a private IT company commissioned by the agency searched social media posts and online sites. To conduct the searches, the firm used keywords that could lead to crimes, particularly those involving guns and explosives.

The new AI system automatically singles out suspicious content from countless pieces of online information by analyzing words and their context. The agency started using it on Friday.

There has been a series of crimes involving guns and explosives that perpetrators were able to manufacture by using information posted on the Internet.

Robberies and fraudulent activities committed by people recruited through online posts have also been reported.

The National Police Agency says it hopes the AI system will prevent crimes. It notes the system will make its cyber patrols more efficient and will enable it to detect harmful information early.