Recently, a high school football player was having some Doritos after practice when the school’s AI surveillance system mistakenly identified his snack as a firearm, leading to a swift response from law enforcement.
Taki Allen, 16, shared that he had just crumpled up his snack bag and was chatting with friends after practice at Kenwood High School in Baltimore. As he waited by his car, he suddenly heard a police officer yelling and pointing a weapon at him.
“There were, like, eight police cars, all with their guns drawn, telling me to get on the ground. I was like, ‘What’s happening?'” Allen recounted.
Authorities explained that the AI in charge of monitoring security footage triggered an alert, thinking it had detected a gun when it was just a bag of Doritos.
Some officers quickly handcuffed Allen and conducted a light pat-down while others searched for his friends.
Body camera footage captured one officer asking, “Do you have a gun?” Meanwhile, Allen appeared visibly shaken and confused, responding, “What? No.”
After reviewing the AI-flagged footage, one officer discovered the bag of chips in a nearby trash can, remarking, “I think he was just eating potato chips… and it was picked up as a gun.” Another officer chimed in, saying, “AI is not the best.”
In the wake of the incident, Allen expressed his anxiety about returning to school. He mentioned he no longer feels secure going outside after practice and tends to wait indoors to avoid the cameras.
“I shouldn’t have to feel this way, especially after just having a snack. I just stay inside until my ride comes,” he said.
School administrators defended the AI detection system, Omnilert, which is utilized in several schools and police departments nationwide. District Superintendent Miriam Rogers stated at a news conference, “In this case, the program did what it was supposed to do.”
However, Allen remains skeptical of its effectiveness. “I don’t think a chip bag should be mistaken for a gun,” he concluded.
