The FTC's allegations are based on incidents where the Evolv system failed to detect weapons, including a case in October 2022 where a student managed to bring a 7-inch knife into a New York school. The FTC argues that Evolv's claims of superior performance due to AI are merely marketing hype. The agency has emphasized the need for technology claims, especially those involving children's safety, to be substantiated. Evolv has not yet responded to these allegations.
Key takeaways:
- The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has accused Evolv, a company that uses an AI system to detect guns in New York subways and schools across the country, of misleading customers about the accuracy of its weapon detection capabilities.
- The FTC alleges that Evolv Express scanners, used in about 800 schools in 40 states, aren't as accurate at detecting weapons as the company claims and has asked the company to stop overstating the capabilities of its AI.
- The FTC proposes that Evolv should be banned from making unsupported claims about its products' ability to detect weapons using AI and should give certain K-12 school customers the option to cancel their contracts.
- The FTC has cited instances where the Evolv Express scanner failed to detect a 7-inch knife brought by a student at a New York school and an off-duty cop's weapon, while setting off an alarm for a student's lunchbox.