The industry, including companies like Evolv Technologies and ZeroEyes, has secured multi-million dollar contracts despite evidence of inefficacy. The FTC filed a complaint against Evolv for misleading marketing after its system failed to detect a knife in a school stabbing incident, leading to increased false alarms. Evolv's scanners also generated a high rate of false alarms during a pilot at New York City's Jacobi Medical Center and failed to detect guns in subway tests. Philadelphia's SEPTA ended its contract with ZeroEyes due to integration issues, and a report by the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory highlighted concerns about ZeroEyes's system compatibility and lack of accuracy data.
Key takeaways:
- An AI gun detection system at a Nashville high school failed to detect a gun used in a fatal shooting due to camera positioning, despite detecting police officers' guns upon their arrival.
- Omnilert, the company behind the system, has a $1 million contract with the school district and claims the issue was not with the system's recognition capabilities but with the gun's visibility.
- The AI-based weapons detection industry, including companies like Evolv Technologies and ZeroEyes, faces criticism for the systems' ineffectiveness and false alarms, as highlighted by incidents in various locations.
- Concerns about the accuracy and integration capabilities of these systems have led to contract terminations and complaints, such as the FTC's complaint against Evolv for deceptive marketing practices.