Evolv Technology’s AI Scanners Under Investigation

The massive claims by Evolv Technology regarding its AI scanner capabilities have drawn scrutiny, particularly following reports from the UK’s British Broadcasting Company (BBC). The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) revealed that the technology firm made misleading claims about the scanner’s abilities, stating that they ‘deceived’ the public.

This revelation comes after the FTC concluded its investigation and imposed a settlement order that prohibits Evolv Technology from making unsupported claims about its products in the future.

FTC Findings and Reactions

The FTC stated that Evolv had made extravagant claims, asserting that their AI scanner could detect ‘all weapons’ using only its sophisticated camera and machine learning algorithms. Daniel Levine, the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection director, noted, ‘The FTC has been clear that claims about technology – including artificial intelligence – need to be backed up, especially when these claims involve the safety of children.’

As part of this settlement, customers from selected K-12 schools now have the option of canceling their contracts with Evolv, allowing them to exit agreements regardless of previously binding multi-year contracts.

BBC’s Role in the Investigation

The BBC’s previous investigations significantly contributed to the FTC’s decision to act, revealing that Evolv’s claims about their technology being approved by the UK government were unfounded. This misleading information prompted concerns about the scanners’ efficacy, particularly in school settings in New York and Utica.

Implications for AI in Security

While many companies experiment with integrating AI into security systems, Evolv’s claims have faced backlash, resulting in doubts about the reliability of AI technology in security contexts. The criticisms include excessive false alarms during deployments, such as at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx, where alarms triggered by Evolv’s scanners had a false positive rate of 85%.

Despite the discrediting of Evolv Technology’s systems, the conversation regarding the utility of AI in public safety continues, particularly as other nations pursue advanced technology implementations.

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• AI Scanners
• Evolv Technology
• FTC