AI Misidentifies Doritos Bag as Gun, Sparks Police Response at School

An AI-powered gun detection system at Kenwood High School in Baltimore County mistakenly identified a bag of Doritos as a weapon, resulting in a police response that involved multiple armed officers and a 16-year-old student being detained. Taki Allen was sitting outside the school after football practice when the incident occurred, causing significant distress not only for him but also raising important questions about the reliability of such technology in educational environments.

The situation unfolded shortly after Allen began snacking on the chips. According to reports from local news station WBAL-TV 11 News, approximately twenty minutes later, he was confronted by a significant police presence. “It was like eight cop cars that came pulling up for us,” Allen recalled. The officers ordered him to the ground, instructing him to kneel with his hands behind his back before ultimately determining that he posed no threat. “I was just holding a Doritos bag,” he noted, explaining that the way he was holding it led to the alarming misidentification.

Concerns Over AI Technology in Schools

This incident underscores the critical flaws associated with current gun detection technologies being implemented in schools across the United States. As schools increasingly rely on surveillance systems to monitor students, privacy concerns arise alongside the potential for false positives. Such occurrences can lead to unnecessary fear and anxiety among students, as demonstrated by Allen’s reaction. “If I eat another bag of chips or drink something, I feel like they’re going to come again,” he expressed to FOX45 News, highlighting the chilling effect of the incident.

The Baltimore County Public Schools system adopted the gun detection technology developed by Virginia-based startup Omnilert last year. The system is designed to analyze images from over 7,000 cameras installed across the school to detect potential weapons in real-time. According to spokesperson Blake Mitchell, the technology aims to improve safety by alerting authorities to possible threats quickly. “Because the image closely resembled a gun being held, it was verified and forwarded to the Baltimore County Public Schools safety team within seconds for their assessment and decision-making,” he stated.

Despite the technology’s intended purpose, the incident has drawn criticism. Omnilert later described the event as a “false positive” but maintained that the system functioned as designed, prioritizing safety through rapid verification. Critics argue that such outcomes, especially involving young students, create a troubling precedent for how AI technologies are deployed in sensitive environments like schools.

Calls for Accountability and Oversight

In the aftermath of the incident, Allen’s family has called for greater accountability regarding the use of AI in school safety measures. His grandfather, Lamont Davis, expressed concern over the excessive police response: “There was no threat for eight guns to be pointed at a 16-year-old.” This sentiment reflects broader anxieties regarding the implications of surveillance technology and the role of law enforcement in educational settings.

The event also raises questions about the potential for racial bias inherent in AI systems. Some studies have suggested that gun detection technologies can disproportionately affect minority students. These concerns complicate the narrative surrounding school safety and highlight the need for careful consideration of how such technologies are implemented.

As schools continue to face challenges related to safety and security, the integration of AI tools presents both opportunities and risks. The episode involving Taki Allen serves as a stark reminder of the importance of ensuring that technological solutions do not compromise the safety and well-being of students.