Summary
In Baltimore, a teenager was mistakenly targeted by police after an AI-powered security system flagged a crumpled Doritos bag as a weapon. The incident highlights the challenges and limitations of relying on artificial intelligence for school safety.
The Incident: AI Flags Doritos Bag as Weapon
At Kenwood High School in Baltimore, an AI-guided security system designed to detect weapons on campus mistakenly identified a crumpled bag of Doritos chips as a gun. The alert triggered a swift response from local police, who arrived in force to investigate.
Teen’s Experience During Police Response
Taki Allen, the teenager involved, had just finished football practice and was sitting outside the school with friends when eight police cars arrived. Officers approached him with guns drawn, ordering him to get on the ground. He was handcuffed and searched before officers discovered he was not carrying any weapons. The bag of chips was later found on the ground nearby.
Reflecting on the experience, Allen shared, “It was mainly like, am I gonna die? Are they going to kill me? They showed me the picture, said that looks like a gun, I said, ‘no, it’s chips.'”
School’s Statement on the Incident
The school’s principal provided a statement clarifying the situation: “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 the police nor school officials have explicitly confirmed the Doritos bag’s involvement but have not denied it either. Gizmodo has reached out to Kenwood High School and Baltimore County police for further comment.
About the AI Security System
The AI system in question is provided by Omnilert, a company specializing in AI-powered active shooter prevention technology. Their security solutions are used across Baltimore County Public Schools, including Kenwood High School since last year. Omnilert’s website highlights their AI gun detection capabilities designed to enhance campus safety. Gizmodo has also contacted Omnilert for a statement regarding this incident.
Next Steps and Responses
This incident underscores the challenges of relying on AI for critical security decisions and raises questions about the accuracy and consequences of such technology in school environments. As investigations continue, schools and technology providers may need to reassess the balance between safety and the risk of false alarms.