SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah — As the new school year approaches, safety has become a primary focus for students, teachers, and parents alike. Summit County School District is introducing a new, less intrusive security measure to enhance safety.

“It’s just one more layer in our security platform,” stated district CEO Mike Tanner.

The district is considering various security options, ultimately selecting a system known as “Zero Eyes.” This innovative technology utilizes artificial intelligence to analyze existing camera feeds, specifically searching for unholstered firearms.

Since its implementation in the latter half of the previous school year, this will be the first full year of operation for the system, which monitors approximately 650 cameras across district buildings.

One of the standout features of “Zero Eyes” is its 24/7 operational capability. Whether inside the school or in the parking lot, the system is continuously monitoring for threats.

If a firearm is detected, a signal is sent to an operations center in Hawaii, which assesses the situation to determine if there is a genuine threat.

“It’s a detection platform, it’s not a surveillance platform,” Tanner emphasized, “it’s not intrusive, it doesn’t keep images of children. All it does is look through those cameras and look for weapons all day long.”

Upon detection of a weapon, an integrated system called Aegix promptly alerts school officials and local law enforcement.

“The biggest challenge in an incident is whether or not people are informed and informed correctly,” noted Michael Huff, Chief Technology Officer with Aegix Global. “We don’t want them going to TikTok figuring out what’s going on, and that happens a lot.”

Tanner hopes that “Zero Eyes” will never need to be activated, allowing teachers, staff, and students to remain unaware of its presence.

“We want to create an inviting, educational environment that’s secure, but we don’t want the security to impact the education,” Tanner remarked, adding that visible security measures like metal detectors can send a negative message to students.

What are the implications of AI in school safety?

AI technology like “Zero Eyes” represents a significant advancement in school security, aiming to provide a safer environment without infringing on privacy. How do you feel about the balance between safety and privacy in schools?