- tech360.tv
US Schools Embrace AI to Detect Guns as Companies Seek Government Funding
Updated: May 23
Kansas considers offering grants of up to $5 million for schools to install AI-equipped surveillance cameras to detect guns. ZeroEyes, a company founded by military veterans, is the only organization that meets all the required criteria. ZeroEyes is also the sole qualified firm for state firearms detection programs in multiple states.
However, the approval of the expenditures lies in the hands of the governor, who must also ensure that the schools meet specific criteria.
The AI software must be patented and designated as qualified anti-terrorism technology, complying with security industry standards. It should already be in use in at least 30 states and have the ability to detect various firearm classifications and subclassifications, with a minimum of 300 subclassifications and at least 2,000 permutations.
ZeroEyes, a rapidly growing company founded by military veterans after the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, is currently the only organization that meets all the required criteria. They have successfully persuaded lawmakers in Kansas to consider their solution for the state budget.
ZeroEyes is also the sole qualified firm for state firearms detection programs in Michigan, Utah, Florida, Iowa, and proposed legislation in Colorado, Louisiana, and Wisconsin. Missouri recently passed legislation offering $2.5 million in matching grants for schools to purchase firearms detection software designated as "qualified anti-terrorism technology," further highlighting ZeroEyes' prominence in the industry.
Sam Alaimo, co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer of ZeroEyes, emphasized that the company does not pay legislators to include them in bills. However, he believes that their inclusion signifies that lawmakers are thoroughly researching and selecting vetted technologies.
ZeroEyes employs AI technology in conjunction with surveillance cameras to identify visible guns. Once a gun is detected, an alert is sent to an operations center staffed by former law enforcement officers and military veterans. If the threat is verified, an alert is then sent to school officials and local authorities, with the aim of intercepting the gun before it becomes a danger.
While the technology itself is widely praised, some question the legislative tactics employed. The specific criteria outlined in the Kansas bill, particularly the requirement for a company to have its product in at least 30 states, has drawn criticism from Jason Stoddard, director of school safety and security for Charles County Public Schools in Maryland. Stoddard believes that allocating millions of dollars to specific products leaves less funding for other crucial school safety measures.
The implementation of AI-driven weapons detection technology can also be costly, prompting some states to establish grant programs. For example, in Florida, the implementation of ZeroEyes technology in just two counties cost approximately $929,000.
While ZeroEyes faces competition from companies like Omnilert, which also utilizes AI in surveillance systems to detect guns, ZeroEyes stands out as the only company with a patent and designation as an anti-terrorism technology. Omnilert has yet to receive these designations but has applied for them.
Critics argue that the Kansas bill creates an anti-competitive environment, and Mark Franken, Omnilert's vice president of marketing, has reached out to the Kansas governor's office in hopes of revising the criteria.
Despite the controversy surrounding the legislation, ZeroEyes' technology has garnered attention and support. The company presented its AI gun detection technology to the House K-12 Education Budget Committee in Kansas, showcasing live demonstrations and actual surveillance photos capturing guns in schools, parking lots, and transit stations. The presentation also highlighted that a dozen arrests were made last year as a direct result of ZeroEyes alerts.
While the $5 million appropriation may not cover every school, Kansas State Representative Adam Thomas believes that the funding could increase in the future based on the effectiveness of ZeroEyes' technology. Thomas expressed hope that the technology would prevent gun violence in schools and eventually be implemented in every educational institution.
Kansas considers offering grants of up to $5 million for schools to install AI-equipped surveillance cameras to detect guns.
ZeroEyes, a company founded by military veterans, is the only organization that meets all the required criteria.
ZeroEyes is also the sole qualified firm for state firearms detection programs in multiple states.
Source: AP NEWS