FORT SMITH, Ark. — Fort Smith Public Schools have been discussing many different options to ramp up safety on campuses. At Monday night's school board meeting, Deputy Superintendent Martin Mahan spoke about hiring Zero Eyes, a company that uses AI technology with existing security cameras to detect weapons.
"The camera systems will have a software package on it that will use artificial intelligence to alert us to a potentially threatening weapon on our campus," said Mahan. "If something appears to be a weapon, but isn't, they will not call it a threat. But if they can legitimately say it is [a threat] they will notify us immediately."
The company website notes that it was formed by "a team of Navy SEALs and elite technologists" in 2018 after the Parkland school shooting.
"We're always focused on continuous improvement. That means assessing our safety measures and looking into new technology that may be able to help protect our students and staff" said Mahan. "We're taking a reactive piece of technology and making a proactive piece of technology."
Safety measures in Fort Smith Schools have been a discussion with the school board since August. This is all a part of a five-year plan that Mahan says "will begin by looking into AI or metal-detecting systems in our arenas and stadiums."
Mahan said he'll take the proposal every year to the board and let them decide if it's something they want to invest in.
Zero Eyes technology will be in schools by August, Mahan said.
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