Big AI blunder? Cops cuff teen in Baltimore after AI security system detects gun in his bag; here’s what happened next

Drama unfolded in Baltimore, a city in the US state of Maryland, after an AI security system spotted a teenager with a gun and apparently alerted the city police. Later, it turned out that it was only flagging a bag of cheesy goodness. The teenager at the center of the incident was identified as Taki Allen, a 16-year-old student.

The incident was captured in body cam footage from Kenwood High School in Baltimore County, where Allen was seen getting patted down while handcuffed after an AI-powered gun detection system flagged him, believing he was carrying, according to TMZ. A search was carried out, and nothing was found.

Police officer explains incident

An officer on the body cam tried to break down and explain the entire incident, saying that the AI system was firing off the alarm because of “the way you guys were eating chips, Doritos, or whatever; it picked it up as a gun.”

A Baltimore County Police Department spokesperson told TMZ, “The officers responded appropriately and proportionally based on the information provided at the time. The incident was safely resolved after it was determined there was no threat.”

The school uses Omnilert. According to TMZ, it is a program that taps into existing school camera feeds to detect objects resembling weapons and then sends alerts to school safety officers and law enforcement.

Allen opens up about the incident

Speaking to the local news station WBAL-TV 11 News, Allen said that he had two hands on the chip bag with one finger out when the system flagged him. It was unclear if Omnialert thought the finger was a gun.