A high school student in Baltimore was detained by law enforcement after an artificial intelligence system erroneously flagged his bag of Doritos as a firearm. Taki Allen described the incident, which occurred Monday night outside Kenwood High School, where he and friends were sitting when multiple police vehicles arrived. Officers approached him with weapons drawn, instructing him to lie on the ground.
Allen recounted being placed in handcuffs and searched before officers discovered the bag of chips near his location. A law enforcement officer showed him an image from the AI detection system, claiming the crumpled chip packaging resembled a weapon. Baltimore County police confirmed the incident, stating that officers responded to a report of a suspicious individual with a weapon but found no firearms during the search.
The school employs an AI-driven gun detection system utilizing existing cameras to identify potential threats. Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers defended the technology, asserting it functioned as intended by triggering an alert for human verification. However, Allen criticized the process, noting the principal did not contact him for three days after the incident. He expressed lingering anxiety about returning to school, avoiding outdoor areas and limiting his movements due to fear of similar misidentifications.
Allen urged the school to adopt more accurate technology to prevent future errors. Rogers indicated she would review the notification protocol and consider adjustments. The student’s grandfather, Lamont Davis, called the situation unacceptable, emphasizing the need for improved safety measures.