NYC’s AI Gun Detection in Subways Falters: Accuracy Issues Spark Privacy Concerns
Staff Editor New York City’s AI Gun-Scanning Pilot Fails to Detect Weapons in Subway
New York City’s ambitious pilot program to implement AI-powered gun-scanning technology in its subway system has been deemed unsuccessful after a month-long trial. The initiative, strongly supported by Mayor Eric Adams, utilized scanning technology from startup Evolv but failed to detect any firearms during the testing period.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) initially remained silent on the results of the pilot, which began in late July. However, recent reports reveal that while the AI scanners detected no guns, they did identify 12 knives. More concerning was the high number of false positives, with over 118 instances leading to unnecessary stops and searches of subway passengers.
Legal Aid Society attorney Diane Akerman raised concerns about privacy invasion and questioned the legality of the knife detections. “This technology not only failed in its primary objective but also potentially infringed on citizens’ rights,” Akerman stated.
The performance of Evolv’s scanners has come under scrutiny, with previous incidents of false positives reported, including multiple incorrect detections involving a CBS reporter. These occurrences have cast doubt on the technology’s reliability and effectiveness in real-world applications.
Despite the pilot’s apparent failure, City Hall maintains that the technology served as a crime deterrent. An NYPD spokesperson noted the absence of shootings in stations where the technology was deployed. However, critics challenge this claim, citing the rarity of subway violence and the limited scope of the pilot, which covered only 20 out of 472 subway stations for a single month.
Experts argue that the short duration of the pilot was insufficient to establish any meaningful deterrence effects. The results have highlighted the underdeveloped state of AI-powered scanning technology, raising questions about its readiness for widespread implementation in public spaces.
This setback comes amid other AI-related issues in New York City, including Mayor Eric Adams’ recent legal troubles and plans to redeploy subway robots. As the city grapples with these technological challenges, the future of AI-powered security measures in New York’s public transportation system remains uncertain.
