• US teen handcuffed by police after AI mistakenly flagged him as carrying a weapon, while he was actually holding a bag of chips
• The incident sparked debates about school procedures for using AI surveillance technology

A teenager in the United States was handcuffed by police after an artificial intelligence system incorrectly identified him as carrying a gun, when he was in fact holding a bag of chips

16-year-old Baltimore student Taki Allen described how several police cars arrived, and officers approached him with guns drawn, ordering him to the ground

The Baltimore County Police Department said that their response was “appropriate and proportional” based on the information available at the time

They explained that the AI alert had been reviewed by human specialists who found no threat, but the school principal overlooked this and notified the school safety team, who ultimately called the police

Allen added that he had just finished a bag of chips after football practice and put the empty packet in his pocket.

About 20 minutes later, armed officers arrived, instructed him to kneel, and handcuffed him, though he was not arrested

After the incident, Allen said he now prefers to wait indoors after practice, as he does not feel safe going outside, especially while eating snacks or drinking

The event has sparked discussions about reviewing school procedures regarding the use of AI surveillance technology