AI Gun Detector Mistakes Doritos Bag for Weapon at Maryland High School, Triggering Police Response

A 16-year-old student named Taki Allen at Kenwood High School in Baltimore County, Maryland, was mistakenly handcuffed and searched after an AI-powered gun detection system flagged his empty Doritos chip bag as a possible firearm. The incident triggered a heavy police response with multiple patrol cars, highlighting the flaws and risks of deploying AI security systems in schools. Despite the alert being reviewed and canceled by human staff, miscommunication led to police being called, escalating the situation unnecessarily. Omnilert, the company behind the AI system, stated that the technology functioned as intended by prioritizing safety through rapid human verification, but acknowledged the false positive. The case has sparked local calls for reviewing reliance on such AI systems due to concerns about their accuracy, privacy, and the potential emotional harm to students. Taki Allen and his family expressed disappointment over the lack of apology and the school's handling of the incident, underscoring broader debates about AI's role and reliability in high-stakes environments.