## Teen Briefly Detained After AI System Mistook Chip Bag for Weapon
A high school student in Baltimore County was briefly handcuffed by police after an AI-powered security system flagged a bag of chips as a potential weapon, according to reporting from WBAL-TV 11.
Taki Allen, a student at Kenwood High School, recounted being approached by multiple police officers while with friends outside the school following football practice. ”it was like eight cop cars that came pulling up for us. At first, I didn’t know where they were going until they started walking toward me with guns, talking about, ‘Get on the ground,’ and I was like, ‘What?'” Allen told the news outlet.
Allen stated he was ordered to the ground, handcuffed, and searched.”They made me get on my knees, put my hands behind my back, and cuffed me,” he said.”Then, they searched me, and they figured out I had nothing.Then, they went over to where I was standing and found a bag of chips on the floor.”
When shown the image that triggered the alert, Allen explained, “They showed me the picture, said that looks like a gun, I said, ‘no, it’s chips.'” He expressed fear during the incident, questioning, “am I gonna die? Are they going to kill me?”
Kenwood High School Principal issued a statement to WBAL-TV 11 detailing the event: “At approximately 7 p.m.,school administration received an alert that an individual on school grounds may have been in possession of a weapon.The Department of School Safety and Security quickly reviewed and canceled the initial alert after confirming there was no weapon. I contacted our school resource officer (SRO) and reported the matter to him, and he contacted the local precinct for additional support. Police officers responded to the school, searched the individual and quickly confirmed that they were not in possession of any weapons.”
Neither Baltimore County police nor school officials have confirmed the chip bag was the source of the alert, but have not denied the claim. Gizmodo reached out to Kenwood High school and baltimore County police for comment.
The security system in use at kenwood High school is provided by Omnilert, a company that identifies itself as a “pioneer in AI-powered active shooter prevention technology.” WBAL-TV 11 reports that the school began utilizing Omnilert’s software last year to detect potential threats. Omnilert’s website advertises an AI gun detection solution for schools. Gizmodo also reached out to Omnilert for comment.
