Baltimore County leaders are calling for a review of an artificial intelligence (A.I.) gun detection system after a false alarm at Kenwood High School mistakenly detected a student carrying a weapon. The Omnilert AI Gun Detection System, which was installed in 2023, sent out an alert warning school administrators that a student had a gun, but it turned out to be a chip bag mistaken for a gun.
Council members Julian Jones and Izzy Patoka have expressed concerns over the system’s effectiveness, citing previous incidents where the same system failed to detect hidden guns. The incident highlights the need for human oversight in A.I.-powered security systems, as emphasized by Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers.
The Omnilert system is designed to identify potential threats and trigger a response from humans, but it can also lead to false positives. In this case, the image sent to personnel closely resembled a gun, which led to police officers drawing their guns and approaching the student. Fortunately, no harm was done, but the incident has raised questions about the system’s reliability.
The company behind Omnilert maintains that its technology is effective and reliable, but it also acknowledges the importance of human oversight in ensuring public confidence in safety technologies used in schools.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/false-alarm-gun-detection-kenwood-maryland-artificial-intelligence-review