A 16-year-old student from Baltimore, Taki Allen, found himself at the center of a dramatic police response after an artificial intelligence (AI) system falsely identified a bag of Doritos as a firearm. The incident unfolded after Allen, who had just finished football practice, placed an empty chip packet in his pocket. Minutes later, armed officers arrived at the scene, handcuffed him, and conducted a search before confirming there was no threat. The AI alert, generated by Omnilert’s gun detection system, was initially reviewed by human analysts who found no cause for concern. However, the school’s principal, unaware of this, escalated the matter to the safety team, which ultimately called the police. The Baltimore County Police Department defended their actions, stating they responded appropriately based on the information available. The incident has sparked calls for a review of AI-powered security systems in schools. Local councilman Izzy Pakota urged Baltimore County Public Schools to reassess its procedures, while Omnilert emphasized that its system functioned as intended, prioritizing safety through rapid human verification. Allen, now wary of similar incidents, has decided to stay indoors after practice, feeling it’s no longer safe to be outside with snacks. The case has reignited debates about the reliability of AI in weapon detection, especially following recent controversies involving other AI security systems.
Armed police handcuff teen after AI mistakes crisp packet for gun in US
