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How a private detective / investigator can use AI, task by task

O*NET 33-9021.00: Private Detectives and InvestigatorsMedian pay $51,220/year (BLS, May 2025)14 tasksJob Zone 3: Medium preparation

Gather, analyze, compile, and report information regarding individuals or organizations to clients, or detect occurrences of unlawful acts or infractions of rules in private establishment.

Type your own title and every prompt on this page updates to match. Also called: Asset Protection Detective, Field Investigator, Investigator, Loss Prevention Agent, Loss Prevention Associate, Loss Prevention Detective, Loss Prevention Investigator, Loss Prevention Officer, Private Investigator, Special Investigator.

Where AI fits in this job

AI-ready 29%AI-assist 60%Stays human 12%

Share of the job's tasks, weighted by how important and how frequent each task is (O*NET ratings). 3 AI-ready, 9 AI-assist and 2 human-led tasks out of 14. This measures where AI can help, not whether the job will disappear.

Information & paperwork
Thinking & planning
People & communication
Leading & teaching
Hands-on & physical

Shape of the job: importance of each kind of work activity (O*NET, 1 to 5).

🗓 Start here on Monday

The most frequent, most important tasks where AI can help right away.

  1. Write reports or case summaries to document investigations.Write it up · Daily
  2. Search computer databases, credit reports, public records, tax or legal filings, or other resources to locate persons or to compile information for investigations.Look into it · Daily
  3. Conduct private investigations on a paid basis.Look into it · Daily

💪 Lean into these

Core tasks that stay human. These skills get more valuable as the routine work gets automated.

  1. Observe and document activities of individuals to detect unlawful acts or to obtain evidence for cases, using binoculars and still or video cameras.Watch & inspect · Monthly
  2. Testify at hearings or court trials to present evidence.Be there for people · A few times a year

Skills to build & where you could move ↓

🔒 Many of these tasks involve people's information. Remove names and identifying details before using AI, or use only a tool your employer has approved.

AI can draft these 3

AI produces a usable first pass. You review it, fix it and own it.

Write reports or case summaries to document investigations.

Daily

AI writes the first draft from your notes; you check every fact.

Show prompt & steps

Give AI your rough notes, numbers or last version and it will turn them into a clean, well-structured first draft. You check every fact and figure before it goes anywhere.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a private detective / investigator. Part of my job is to write reports or case summaries to document investigations.

Context: We use Microsoft Word.
Incident: [what happened, when, where; no names]
Findings: [facts, evidence, actions taken]

Draft a factual report with timeline, findings and recommendations. Mark assumptions with [CHECK]. Use plain language and headings where they help, and mark anything you had to guess with [CHECK].

10-minute exercise: Incident or investigation report

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you write reports or case summaries (today).
Step 2Fill in [Incident] and [Findings] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Check every fact and time against your notes and evidence.

AI will happily make up numbers, names and dates. Every fact in the draft needs checking against your source.

Importance 4.8/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Prepare investigation or incident reports..

Search computer databases, credit reports, public records, tax or legal filings, or other resources to locate persons or to compile information for investigations.

Daily

AI maps out the topic and options; confirm with real sources.

Show prompt & steps

AI is a fast research assistant. Ask it to map out a topic, compare options or list what to check. Use a tool with web search and ask for its sources.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a private detective / investigator. Part of my job is to search computer databases, credit reports, public records, tax or legal filings, or other resources to locate persons or to compile information for investigations.

Context: We use LexisNexis; the work draws on law and government, psychology and administrative.
Question: [what I'm trying to find out]
Databases I can use: [list them]

Suggest search terms, filters and the order to search each database, plus how to cross-check results. Give me a table to record what I find and where.

10-minute exercise: Search plan across databases

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you search computer databases, credit reports and public records (today).
Step 2Fill in [Question] and [Databases I can use] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Run two of its searches and log the results in the table. Confirm the rules against the current official source.

AI can invent sources and citations. Open every link and confirm it says what the AI claims.

Rules and regulations vary by place and change often. Confirm against the official source before relying on anything.

Double-check every number. AI can make arithmetic and rounding mistakes.

Importance 4.4/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Use databases to locate investigation details or other information.. Also involves: Examine records or other types of data to investigate criminal activities..

Count cash and review transactions, sales checks, or register tapes to verify amounts or to identify shortages.

A few times a year

AI finds trends and writes the spreadsheet formulas.

Show prompt & steps

Paste a spreadsheet or table and ask AI to find trends, outliers and totals, or to write the formula you need. It's like having an analyst on call.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a private detective / investigator. Part of my job is to count cash and review transactions, sales checks, or register tapes to verify amounts or to identify shortages.

Context: We use Microsoft Excel; the work draws on law and government, psychology and administrative.
Receipts: [paste totals by type]
Register or system totals: [paste]

Balance and explain variances. Show your working step by step and give spreadsheet formulas so I can reproduce the numbers.

10-minute exercise: Balance the day

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you count cash.
Step 2Fill in [Receipts] and [Register or system totals] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Recompute the most important number yourself before you trust the rest. Recompute every total yourself.

AI makes arithmetic mistakes. Recompute anything that matters with a spreadsheet formula.

Double-check every number. AI can make arithmetic and rounding mistakes.

Importance 3.7/5 · O*NET work activity: Balance receipts..

AI can help you prep these 9

AI speeds up the prep, drafting or thinking. The core of the task is still yours.

Conduct private investigations on a paid basis.

Daily

AI gets you up to speed; confirm findings with records or people.

Show prompt & steps

AI can get you up to speed fast and suggest where to look, but you need to confirm findings against real sources, records or people.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a private detective / investigator. Part of my job is to conduct private investigations on a paid basis.

Context: We use LexisNexis; the work draws on law and government, psychology and administrative.
Purpose: [pre-employment, case, verification]
Legal limits: [jurisdiction, consent]

List lawful sources to check, the order to check them, how to verify findings, and what I must not do.

10-minute exercise: Background check plan

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you conduct private investigations (today).
Step 2Fill in [Purpose] and [Legal limits] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Confirm the legal limits with your compliance rules before using it.

AI can invent sources and citations. Open every link and confirm it says what the AI claims.

Importance 4.5/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Investigate personal characteristics or activities of individuals..

Conduct personal background investigations, such as pre-employment checks, to obtain information about an individual's character, financial status, or personal history.

Weekly

AI gets you up to speed; confirm findings with records or people.

Show prompt & steps

AI can get you up to speed fast and suggest where to look, but you need to confirm findings against real sources, records or people.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a private detective / investigator. Part of my job is to conduct personal background investigations, such as pre-employment checks, to obtain information about an individual's character, financial status, or personal history.

Context: We use LexisNexis; the work draws on law and government, psychology and administrative.
Purpose: [pre-employment, case, verification]
Legal limits: [jurisdiction, consent]

List lawful sources to check, the order to check them, how to verify findings, and what I must not do.

10-minute exercise: Background check plan

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you conduct personal background investigations (this week).
Step 2Fill in [Purpose] and [Legal limits] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Confirm the legal limits with your compliance rules before using it.

AI can invent sources and citations. Open every link and confirm it says what the AI claims.

Double-check every number. AI can make arithmetic and rounding mistakes.

Importance 4.4/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Investigate personal characteristics or activities of individuals..

Obtain and analyze information on suspects, crimes, or disturbances to solve cases, to identify criminal activity, or to gather information for court cases.

Weekly

AI gets you up to speed; confirm findings with records or people.

Show prompt & steps

AI can get you up to speed fast and suggest where to look, but you need to confirm findings against real sources, records or people.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a private detective / investigator. Part of my job is to obtain and analyze information on suspects, crimes, or disturbances to solve cases, to identify criminal activity, or to gather information for court cases.

Context: We use LexisNexis; the work draws on law and government, psychology and administrative.
Incident: [what happened, systems or records involved]
Data available: [logs, transactions, images, records]

Propose a step-by-step forensic review: what to preserve first, what to look for in each data source, tools commonly used, and red flags. Remind me of chain-of-custody steps.

10-minute exercise: Forensic review plan

Step 1Take a closed incident you know the answer to.
Step 2Describe it in [Incident] and list sources in [Data available].
Step 3Did its plan lead toward the real cause? Use that to judge it on live cases. Confirm the rules against the current official source.

AI can invent sources and citations. Open every link and confirm it says what the AI claims.

Rules and regulations vary by place and change often. Confirm against the official source before relying on anything.

Importance 4.3/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Examine records or other types of data to investigate criminal activities..

Question persons to obtain evidence for cases of divorce, child custody, or missing persons or information about individuals' character or financial status.

Weekly

AI helps you prepare questions; the listening is yours.

Show prompt & steps

Use AI to prepare better questions and to organize your notes afterward. Listening to the person in front of you is yours.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a private detective / investigator. Part of my job is to question persons to obtain evidence for cases of divorce, child custody, or missing persons or information about individuals' character or financial status.

Context: The work draws on law and government, psychology and administrative.
Purpose: [background check, case]
People to contact: [neighbours, employers, associates]

Write neutral questions, legal limits to respect, and a record template. Order the questions sensibly, add follow-ups for vague answers, and give me a note-taking template.

10-minute exercise: Verification interview

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you question persons (this week). Leave out names and identifying details.
Step 2Fill in [Purpose] and [People to contact] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Check the questions against your legal and consent rules.

Don't record people or paste their answers into AI without consent and your employer's approval.

Double-check every number. AI can make arithmetic and rounding mistakes.

Importance 4.3/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Interview people to obtain information about actions or status of individuals..

Expose fraudulent insurance claims or stolen funds.

Monthly

AI gets you up to speed; confirm findings with records or people.

Show prompt & steps

AI can get you up to speed fast and suggest where to look, but you need to confirm findings against real sources, records or people.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a private detective / investigator. Part of my job is to expose fraudulent insurance claims or stolen funds.

Context: We use LexisNexis; the work draws on law and government, psychology and administrative.
Allegation: [what's suspected, without names]
Policies or laws involved: [theft policy, regulation, code]

Give me an investigation plan: evidence to secure first, records to pull, who to interview in what order, legal and HR cautions, and how to document findings. Flag anything that needs legal advice.

10-minute exercise: Plan an internal investigation

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you expose fraudulent insurance claims or stolen funds.
Step 2Describe it in [Allegation] and list rules in [Policies or laws involved].
Step 3Check the plan with your legal or HR contact before using it on a live case.

AI can invent sources and citations. Open every link and confirm it says what the AI claims.

Double-check every number. AI can make arithmetic and rounding mistakes.

Importance 4.4/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Investigate crimes committed within organizations..

Confer with establishment officials, security departments, police, or postal officials to identify problems, provide information, or receive instructions.

Monthly

AI drafts clear messages and talking points.

Show prompt & steps

AI can draft updates, emails and talking points so your message is clear and complete. Relationships and real-time calls are yours.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a private detective / investigator. Part of my job is to confer with establishment officials, security departments, police, or postal officials to identify problems, provide information, or receive instructions.

Incident: [type]
Agencies: [police, fire]

Draft coordination messages. Keep it under 150 words with a clear ask, plus a 2-sentence version for chat.

10-minute exercise: Joint incident response

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you confer with establishment officials, security departments and police.
Step 2Fill in [Incident] and [Agencies] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Edit it until it sounds like you, then send it yourself.

Never let AI send messages for you. Read every word, because tone mistakes cost trust.

Importance 3.6/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Collaborate with law enforcement or security agencies to respond to incidents..

Alert appropriate personnel to suspects' locations.

Monthly

AI drafts clear messages and talking points.

Show prompt & steps

AI can draft updates, emails and talking points so your message is clear and complete. Relationships and real-time calls are yours.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a private detective / investigator. Part of my job is to alert appropriate personnel to suspects' locations.

Situation: [evidence, incident]
Recipient: [lab, examiner, attorney]

Draft a concise notification with key facts. Keep it under 150 words with a clear ask, plus a 2-sentence version for chat.

10-minute exercise: Situation report

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you alert appropriate personnel. Leave out names and identifying details.
Step 2Fill in [Situation] and [Recipient] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Edit it until it sounds like you, then send it yourself.

Never let AI send messages for you. Read every word, because tone mistakes cost trust.

Importance 3.8/5 · O*NET work activity: Communicate situation details to appropriate personnel..

Investigate companies' financial standings, or locate funds stolen by embezzlers, using accounting skills.

Monthly

AI gets you up to speed; confirm findings with records or people.

Show prompt & steps

AI can get you up to speed fast and suggest where to look, but you need to confirm findings against real sources, records or people.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a private detective / investigator. Part of my job is to investigate companies' financial standings, or locate funds stolen by embezzlers, using accounting skills.

Context: We use LexisNexis; the work draws on law and government, psychology and administrative.
Allegation: [what's suspected, without names]
Policies or laws involved: [theft policy, regulation, code]

Give me an investigation plan: evidence to secure first, records to pull, who to interview in what order, legal and HR cautions, and how to document findings. Flag anything that needs legal advice.

10-minute exercise: Plan an internal investigation

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you investigate companies' financial standings.
Step 2Describe it in [Allegation] and list rules in [Policies or laws involved].
Step 3Check the plan with your legal or HR contact before using it on a live case.

AI can invent sources and citations. Open every link and confirm it says what the AI claims.

Double-check every number. AI can make arithmetic and rounding mistakes.

Importance 4.0/5 · O*NET work activity: Investigate crimes committed within organizations..

Perform undercover operations, such as evaluating the performance or honesty of employees by posing as customers or employees.

A few times a year

AI gets you up to speed; confirm findings with records or people.

Show prompt & steps

AI can get you up to speed fast and suggest where to look, but you need to confirm findings against real sources, records or people.

Ready-to-use prompt

I work as a private detective / investigator. Part of my job is to perform undercover operations, such as evaluating the performance or honesty of employees by posing as customers or employees.

Context: We use LexisNexis; the work draws on law and government, psychology and administrative.
Purpose: [pre-employment, case, verification]
Legal limits: [jurisdiction, consent]

List lawful sources to check, the order to check them, how to verify findings, and what I must not do.

10-minute exercise: Background check plan

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you perform undercover operations. Leave out names and identifying details.
Step 2Fill in [Purpose] and [Legal limits] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Confirm the legal limits with your compliance rules before using it.

AI can invent sources and citations. Open every link and confirm it says what the AI claims.

Importance 3.9/5 · O*NET work activity: Investigate personal characteristics or activities of individuals..

These stay human 2

They need your hands, your presence or your accountable judgment. Lean into them: they get more valuable as routine work is automated.

📏 Measured in this job (O*NET work context): Contact with others: contact with others most of the time · Dealing with the public: very important · Face-to-face discussions: once a week or more but not every day · Impact of decisions: important results

Observe and document activities of individuals to detect unlawful acts or to obtain evidence for cases, using binoculars and still or video cameras.

Monthly

Needs your eyes on site. AI can build the checklist and the report.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: AI can build your inspection checklists, explain standards and turn your notes and photos into clean reports.

Prep prompt

I work as a private detective / investigator. Part of my job is to observe and document activities of individuals to detect unlawful acts or to obtain evidence for cases, using binoculars and still or video cameras.

Context: The work draws on law and government, psychology and administrative.
Who and what I observe: [students, players, staff, activity]
What I'm looking for: [behaviour, performance, rule compliance]

Create an observation checklist with clear behavioural indicators, a rating scale, and a notes template. Remind me how to keep notes objective.

10-minute exercise: Observation checklist

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you observe and document activities of individuals.
Step 2Fill in [Who and what I observe] and [What I'm looking for].
Step 3Use it once and compare with your usual notes. Keep what helped.

Importance 4.2/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Observe individuals' activities to gather information or compile evidence.. Also involves: Record crime or accident scene evidence with video or still cameras..

Testify at hearings or court trials to present evidence.

A few times a year

Human connection. Use AI only before and after, to prepare.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: Use AI before and after, not during. Prepare talking points, practise a hard conversation, or turn your notes into a follow-up.

Prep prompt

I work as a private detective / investigator. Part of my job is to testify at hearings or court trials to present evidence.

Context: The work draws on law and government, psychology and administrative.
Proceeding: [court, hearing, legislative]
Topic: [findings, violations, investigation]

Help me prepare: key facts in order, likely questions including hostile ones, and how to answer calmly and only within my knowledge. Then cross-examine me.

10-minute exercise: Testimony prep

Step 1Pick a real example: the next time you testify at hearings or court trials.
Step 2Fill in [Proceeding] and [Topic] with the real details, then run the prompt.
Step 3Review with counsel and stick strictly to facts you can support. Confirm the rules against the current official source.

Rules and regulations vary by place and change often. Confirm against the official source before relying on anything.

Importance 4.3/5 · core task · O*NET work activity: Testify at legal or legislative proceedings..

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Your next moves

Skills to build

From O*NET's ratings of how important each skill is in this job, matched to which part of the work it supports.

With AI Use these to work with AI

When AI does the first draft, these are the skills you use to brief it and check what comes back.

  • Active Listeningimportance 4.1/5
    Used in: Getting Information
  • Critical Thinkingimportance 3.9/5
    Used in: Getting Information
  • Reading Comprehensionimportance 3.9/5
    Used in: Getting Information
  • Writingimportance 3.6/5
    Used in: Documenting/Recording Information

Where you could move

Related jobs from O*NET with the closest skill profile, favouring ones where more of the work stays human. No step down in preparation.

New tasks appearing in this job

O*NET has started tracking 2 new or updated tasks here: 0 AI-ready, 0 AI-assist, 2 stays human. They have no worker ratings yet, so they aren't counted in the bar above.

Serve documents to parties named in legal proceedings.

New in O*NET

Physical, in-person work. AI helps with checklists and write-ups.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: AI helps around the job: decoding manuals and instructions, pre-job checklists, calculations and writing up what you did afterward.

Prep prompt

I work as a private detective / investigator. Part of my job is to serve documents to parties named in legal proceedings.

Context: The work draws on law and government, psychology and administrative.
Job details: [documents to parties named in legal proceedings: materials, specs, model numbers, site conditions]

Make me a pre-job checklist to serve documents to parties named in legal proceedings (tools, materials, safety steps), the key measurements or calculations to double-check, and a 3-line template for logging the job when I'm done. Flag anything to check against the manufacturer's manual.

10-minute exercise: Pre-job checklist: documents to parties named in legal proceedings

Step 1Before you next serve documents to parties named in legal proceedings, put the real materials, specs and site conditions in [Job details].
Step 2Check cooking and holding temperatures and allergen notes against your food-safety rules. Add the steps only experience teaches.
Step 3After the job, log it with the 3-line template and note one thing to do faster or safer next time. Confirm the rules against the current official source.

Rules and regulations vary by place and change often. Confirm against the official source before relying on anything.

New O*NET task (07/2015). O*NET hasn't linked it to work activities yet, so it was labelled by hand.

Use advanced technology, such as drones, GPS trackers, and surveillance cameras, to facilitate investigations.

New in O*NET

Physical, in-person work. AI helps with checklists and write-ups.

Show prep prompt & steps

Where AI still helps: AI helps around the job: decoding manuals and instructions, pre-job checklists, calculations and writing up what you did afterward.

Prep prompt

I work as a private detective / investigator. Part of my job is to use advanced technology, such as drones, GPS trackers, and surveillance cameras, to facilitate investigations.

Context: The work draws on law and government, psychology and administrative.
Job details: [drones, GPS trackers, and surveillance cameras: materials, specs, model numbers, site conditions]

Make me a pre-job checklist to use advanced technology (tools, materials, safety steps), the key measurements or calculations to double-check, and a 3-line template for logging the job when I'm done. Flag anything to check against the manufacturer's manual.

10-minute exercise: Pre-job checklist: advanced technology

Step 1Before you next use advanced technology, put the real materials, specs and site conditions in [Job details].
Step 2Strike anything that doesn't match your manual or site rules. Add the steps only experience teaches.
Step 3After the job, log it with the 3-line template and note one thing to do faster or safer next time.

New O*NET task (05/2025). O*NET hasn't linked it to work activities yet, so it was labelled by hand.

Getting into this job

Bachelor's degree is most common (38% of workers)

  • High school or less 25%
  • Certificate or some college 16%
  • Associate's 16%
  • Bachelor's 42%
  • On-the-job training: 6–12 months
  • Related experience: 2–4 years

What workers in this job report, from O*NET surveys (typical values).

Software in this job

In-demand tools from O*NET. Many now have AI built in, so check what yours can do before adding a new tool.

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