Local school districts implementing AI weapons detection technology

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - With a new school year just a few days away, several local districts are turning to artificial intelligence for added security.

"We've added artificial intelligence to our cameras," said Niagara Falls City Schools Superintendent Mark Laurrie, who was an in-studio guest on WBEN on Wednesday morning.

"It allows us to detect anything that is happening in the parking lots before someone were to enter school. For example, if someone were to brandish a weapon. Our cameras will pick that up the minute that person steps out of his or her car and shows one eighth of an inch of a weapon."

Laurrie said local police, and resource officers are alerted immediately, if AI picks up something suspicious.

"We're using technology to our benefit," he added.

The Niagara Falls City School District has over 350 outside cameras. At each school, cameras can pan, tilt and zoom 360 degrees.

Laurrie says that detection system will give officers an extra 16 seconds to respond to a threat.

He noted it's necessary as a result of some of the terrible things that have happened around the country where attackers prepare themselves outside of schools with the intention of doing harm.

WBEN has learned two other local school districts are also integrating the same AI technology to their cameras: Grand Island and Niagara-Wheatfield.

The detection system is known as ZeroEyes. It was designed to protect students and teachers from the growing threat of mass shootings at elementary, middle, and high schools as well as streets, parks and public spaces.

Superintendent Laurrie also discussed cell phones in school, and efforts to air condition all district buildings by May 2025 in the lengthy interview.