More Ohio schools using AI gun detection software monitored by military veterans

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – An artificial intelligence gun detection software that connects to schools’ security cameras and is monitored by military veterans is growing in popularity across the state. 

ZeroEyes, founded in 2018, uses AI to detect brandished firearms within view of any camera that is equipped with its software. If a suspected firearm is detected, the footage is forwarded to the company’s operation center, which is staffed by retired military and law enforcement personnel.

Once the center confirms there is an active threat, the company notifies the appropriate school employees, security personnel and first responders. This process can happen in as fast as three to five seconds and is intended to reduce response times by law enforcement.

While ZeroEyes has “several” education clients in Ohio, some districts are not comfortable with revealing their security measures, a spokesperson with the company said. However, since 2023, three districts and one career center in the state have publicly joined the hundreds of other education institutions across the country that use the software. The service is emerging as another weapons detection option that does not involve students walking through a scanner. 

Evolv, a company that offers walkthrough detectors that aim to identify both concealed and brandished weapons, is one of the most popular weapon detection systems in American schools. Evolv’s detectors use sensors and AI to detect guns and knives, distinguishing weapons from everyday items such as keys, according to its website. 

Founded in 2013, Evolv is used at eight major school systems in Ohio, according to a spokesperson. This includes Columbus City Schools, which implemented the security system for $3 million in February 2023.  

However, in late November, the Federal Trade Commission filed legal action against Evolv. The lawsuit alleged the company has misled the public about its detectors’ abilities and that the scanners have failed to detect weapons in schools while flagging harmless personal items. 

Although Evolv disagreed with the allegations and denied any wrongdoing, it shortly agreed to a settlement and several recommendations from the FTC, including allowing certain customers to cancel their contracts, which are often multiyear deals. 

Columbus City Schools declined to comment on the lawsuit specifically but said Evolv has been instrumental in providing an “added layer of safety” at schools across the district. 

“Since our implementation [in] February 2023, it has reduced the number of guns collected or attempting to be brought into our high schools by students and visitors as this was the No. 1 concern,” a spokesperson with the district said. “To date, we do not have any record of any guns that have been brought into our high schools or detected after processing through the Evolv systems.”

ZeroEyes does have its limits, as it cannot recognize concealed weapons out of the camera's sight, and focuses exclusively on firearms. The American Civil Liberties Union has also addressed concerns about the software, specifically that it may “incentivize the installation of surveillance cameras everywhere.” The nonprofit also said false positives are unavoidable and may result in tragic or fatal confrontations with police. 

The company addresses privacy concerns on its website, stating its AI is trained to only detect guns and is incapable of facial recognition, voice recording or “other invasive measures.” It also claims human verification helps reduce false alarms.

Among the districts that have been public with their use of the system is northeast Ohio’s Berkshire district, which ZeroEyes announced as a customer in September 2023, and Cardinal district, which the company announced as a customer in December. ZeroEyes also revealed on Monday that Kenston Local School District, also in northeast Ohio, is now using the software.

The Tri-County Career Center, which sits between Logan and Athens, implemented the software over the summer before the 2024-2025 school year. Superintendent Connie Altier said the school was the first to do so in the southern half of the state. Altier said she discovered the technology when the company put on a presentation about their services at a nearby school during the spring. 

“It was one of those things that I was like, now that I know this is out there, I can’t not have it because I need to keep my staff and students safe,” Altier said. 

The software was installed in the school’s existing security cameras, and three staff members are set to receive alerts through phone calls and texts on detected threats, including notifications about fake guns, according to Altier. She said the company works with schools and considers their budget. 

“[Price] was one of the things that they don't ask that we share because they want to work with every school district to see what they can do and make sure that they can put this in as many places as they can,” Altier said. 

ZeroEyes’ website states it offers custom pricing based on how many cameras the costumer wants the software installed on, the length of the service agreement and other factors. The company does claim it is generally cheaper than metal detectors and other concealed weapon censors.

“It's very easy to use and the people at ZeroEyes have been excellent on training, they're very thorough with everything,” Altier said. “I would suggest people to look into it because in our day and age, you don't know what's going to happen.”

So far, Altier said the software has not detected any weapons at the school. The AI detection software has not thwarted an active shooter to date, but it has resulted in thousands of fake and real gun detections in schools, according to Eastern Michigan University.