New York City announces a plan to test AI-powered gun detection scanners at subway turnstiles, partnering with the scrutinized company Evolv.
Main Points:
- New York City, in partnership with Evolv, will trial AI gun detection technology at subway turnstiles, following a recent gun incident in Brooklyn.
- Evolv faces criticism for the accuracy of its scanners, amid ongoing investigations by the FTC and SEC, and a class action lawsuit by shareholders.
- Concerns are raised over the technology’s effectiveness and ethical implications, with critics arguing NYC should not be a test site for such surveillance tools.
Summary:
New York City will soon implement a pilot program to test AI-based gun detection scanners at subway turnstiles, in an effort spearheaded by Mayor Eric Adams. This decision follows a troubling incident in Brooklyn and aims to enhance public safety within the city’s subway system. The city has chosen to collaborate with Evolv, a Massachusetts-based company known for its weapons detection technology. Despite its widespread use in various public venues, Evolv’s systems have faced criticism for their reliability and accuracy, alongside investigations by federal entities and legal challenges from investors.
The introduction of this technology raises significant concerns regarding its efficiency and the potential for false positives, as reported instances include the misidentification of umbrellas as firearms and the failure to detect weapons replicas. Additionally, the pilot’s announcement has sparked debate over the ethics of using the public as subjects in surveillance technology testing, especially given the lack of robust evidence supporting the technology’s effectiveness. Mayor Adams, however, emphasizes the potential of such technology to prevent gun violence, despite the company’s controversial standing and the mayor’s connections to some of Evolv’s investors. As NYC prepares to embark on this surveillance venture, the move has attracted criticism from civil liberties organizations and skepticism from a public wary of the implications of increased surveillance on personal freedoms and privacy.
Source: NYC will test AI gun detectors on the subway
Keep up to date on the latest AI news and tools by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, or following up on Twitter and Facebook.
