Volusia County Schools Deploy AI Gun-Detection System for Enhanced Security

Volusia County, Florida, is set to bolster school safety measures with the introduction of the AI-powered gun-detection system, ZeroEyes, as students prepare to return for the new academic year. This advanced technology leverages the existing security camera network to detect potential firearms and immediately notify law enforcement, promising a significant enhancement in emergency response times. Captain Todd Smith from the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office noted the system's efficiency, stating, "Sometimes it takes a person to hear a gunshot or somebody sees something. This cuts all that out."

When an object is identified as a potential firearm, images are transmitted to ZeroEyes headquarters in Philadelphia, where professionals with military and law enforcement backgrounds verify the threat. The system boasts an impressive alert speed, providing notifications within three to five seconds of detecting a possible weapon. Co-founder Sam Alaimo highlighted its impact, asserting it allows first responders to pinpoint the shooter's exact location swiftly.

The implementation of ZeroEyes will cost approximately $50,000 annually for Volusia County Schools. The technology has already been operational in Seminole County since 2021 and was recently adopted by the Daytona Beach police, underscoring a growing trend towards integrating AI in enhancing safety across educational institutions. ZeroEyes has conducted thousands of identifications of both real and fake firearms in schools and other venues, with the primary goal of safeguarding students and staff.