Kansas looking to artificial intelligence to keep kids safe in school

WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) – Kansas schools are looking to bring in artificial intelligence gun detecting technology in the next school year as a way to detect a gun on school property before anything can happen and keep kids safe in school. 

There are 30 states that are already using this technology and Kansas lawmakers are looking to be the next. In the education budget this year there is a 5 million dollar grant for schools to apply for in order to bring this technology to their own campus.

“You have to have something or someone 24/7 watching, monitoring, and detecting. The AI does that,” said State Representative Kristey Williams who is the chairwoman for the K-12 education budget committee.

Williams is also a mom of four and knows just how scary it can be sending your kids to school when school shootings are becoming more and more common. After all, the number one thing every parent wants is to keep their kids safe.

“We want to ensure that when our kids go to school that there are eyes on them to protect them. That’s our number one priority,” she said.

Here’s how it works. The AI technology is designed to recognize thousands of different types of guns and is connected to security cameras. If it sees a gun it takes a screenshot and sends it to a roomful of workers who can identify if it is a real threat.

“As soon as an alert is detected and sent out then it immediately goes to real humans,” said Williams.

If the workers determine it’s a true threat they immediately notify authorities. This is meant to save time for both law enforcement and the students on the ground because it can catch a gun on school property faster. However, the AI can’t detect hidden weapons. 

Williams says she also likes this concept because it doesn’t identify any faces or save any personal data.

“It really is utilizing technology to the full extent without violating their privacy,” she said.

The budget is on Governor Laura Kelly’s desk waiting for her to sign. If she does, some schools could start implementing this technology as early as the 2024-2025 school year.

This is a 5 million dollar grant. If passed, any public school in Kansas can apply as long as they use a technology that fits the requirements listed in the bill. The department of education will then decide who gets how much.