A security firm’s AI weapons scanner, installed in hundreds of US schools, has come under scrutiny after it failed to detect a knife used in a school stabbing incident. The $3.7 million system, developed by Evolv Technology, aims to replace traditional metal detectors by using artificial intelligence to detect concealed weapons. However, a BBC investigation revealed that the system struggled to reliably detect large knives. The incident in Utica, New York, where a student suffered multiple stab wounds, has raised questions about the effectiveness of the technology in creating safer environments for students.
Evolv Technology’s AI weapons scanners were introduced in schools as a means to enhance security measures and create weapons-free zones. However, independent testing found that the system missed 42% of large knives in walk-throughs. Despite this, the company continued to expand its presence in schools across the US. Following the stabbing incident, the school district removed the scanners from the affected school but has been unable to afford their removal from the remaining schools.
Critics argue that Evolv Technology exaggerated the effectiveness of its system, and school officials may have been misled by audacious marketing claims. The company has faced accusations of playing fast and loose with marketing claims for a security product designed to protect young people. The lack of transparency regarding the system’s capabilities and limitations has raised concerns about the reliability and suitability of AI weapons scanners in school settings.
Source: BBC
