As school safety is increasingly on the front burner, some systems are installing new AI firearm detection systems to ward off possible threats. Suffice it to say, the bugs are still being worked out of these programs, and they are far from perfect.
In a Baltimore public school last week, an innocent student faced the horrifying ordeal of being forced to the ground at gunpoint.
Over a bag of Doritos.
School’s AI system mistook Doritos bag for a firearm on campus
Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers of the Baltimore County School System is busy defending the detection system after last week’s frightening encounter on school grounds.
Taki Allen is a 16-year-old football player at Kenwood High School. While waiting after football practice, he talked to friends and ate a bag of Doritos chips.
That’s when several police vehicles converged on the scene, and everything hit the fan.
The 16-year-old young man is understandably shaken by the ordeal
Allen recalled the law enforcement rushing at him with firearms drawn. “Police showed up, like eight cop cars, and then they all came out with guns pointed at me talking about getting on the ground. I was putting my hands up like, ‘What’s going on?’ He told me to get on my knees and arrested me and put me into cuffs.”
A search found the empty chip bag, and an officer then explained to Allen how the system mistook the innocuous item for a dangerous weapon.
Rogers defended the AI despite the obvious gaffe. “The program is based on human verification, and in this case, the program did what it was supposed to do, which was to signal an alert and for humans to take a look to find if there was a cause for concern in that moment.”
“Take a look” translates to forcing a 16-year-old student to the ground at gunpoint.
Allen is understandably concerned about the risk. “I don’t think no chip bag should be mistaken for a gun at all.”
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