AI Sparks Panic at US School After Mistaking a Bag of Chips for a Gun

Artificial Intelligence Sparks Panic at School

                                                   

AI Sparks Panic at US School After Mistaking a Bag of Chips for a Gun

A Maryland high school witnessed a bizarre incident after an AI-based security system mistook a bag of Doritos for a gun.

According to a CNN report, student Taki Allen, from Kenwood High School in Baltimore County, was arrested and placed in handcuffs after the security system identified the bag he was holding as a "potential threat."

Allen told local station WBAL, "I was just holding a bag of Doritos, with my hand on the bag, and they said it looked like a weapon. Then they had me kneel with my hands behind my back and handcuffed me." 

In a statement to parents, school principal Katie Smith explained that the security team reviewed the alert and later rescinded it. However, the principal was unaware of the incident at the time and notified the school security officer, who in turn called the local police.

Omnilert, the developer of the AI-powered weapon detection system, expressed regret for the incident, stating in its statement: "We regret this incident and understand the concern it has caused for the student and the school community." 

It added that the system operated according to established procedures, despite the incorrect result. The incident highlights the growing risks of overreliance on AI technologies for security, especially in sensitive environments such as schools, where any technical error can escalate into a dangerous situation that threatens the safety of students.