Chris Ciabarra, Co-Founder and Chief AI Architect, Athena Security considers the power of AR Glasses and AI-powered weapons detection.
Gun violence continues to plague schools and hospitals, leaving security teams across the country scrambling for better solutions.
K-12 schools are seeing near record-high incidents from gun violence, according to the K-12 School Shooting Database, while hospitals remain one of the most dangerous workplaces โ reportedly four to five times riskier than any other profession, PBS News says.
Security personnel face a near impossible task: balance speed, accuracy and workload while ensuring no concealed weapons slip through.
One mistake could lead to tragic consequences.
Recent advances in technology, however, could finally bring relief to venue security teams and peace of mind to the public.
In this article, I will describe how two technologies, AR glasses and AI-powered weapons detection systems, can work seamlessly together to boost the effectiveness of venue security, making it smarter, faster and more reliable than ever before.ย
But new tech alone isnโt enough โ the technology and staff training that make up a venueโs security protocols must align with best practices set by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Whatโs more, each venue must make decisions about its security investments that factor in their risk profiles (e.g., schools, hospitals and highly classified government facilities have a lower risk tolerance than grocery stores or shopping malls), traffic throughput requirements and more.
Long shifts and high-pressure environments impact the effectiveness of security officers.
Mistakes can happen, especially as fatigue sets in.
Publicly available TSA data has shown error rates can climb to 10% during shifts.
The more fatigued an officer gets, or even disengaged from unceasing repetitive activity, the more likely they are to miss a real threat.
Traditional security methods such as manual bag checks, metal detectors and human observation are often inconsistently applied.
Add to that stress, distractions and exhaustion, and you have the right ingredients for errors in weapons detection.
Thatโs simply not an option in any venue, let alone our schools, hospitals and public facing venues where so many people are vulnerable to attack.
Example scenario: A security officer works a packed concert venue.
Thousands of people pour through multiple access points hoping to get a drink and snack before grabbing their seats.
In such a dynamic entryway, itโs nearly impossible to monitor every individual effectively.
One small distraction could allow a dangerous weapon inside.
AI-powered weapons detection is already transforming venue security across the country.
Traditional metal detectors beep at car keys and belt buckles.
With AI in the security technology stack, weapons detection systems are able to work more efficiently while also increasing detection accuracy, as in the case of monitoring for both ferrous and non-ferrous weapons as they pass through an X-ray machine.
Key advantages of AI-powered systems:
Example scenario: Imagine a downtown high school with a history of gang violence.
Hundreds of students enter the same entrance in the morning.
A security officer watches over the main entrance.
Without AI, the officer relies on instincts and quick glances.
With AI-based weapons detection, the system flags a student attempting to sneak in a firearm, triggering an immediate alert.
Security steps in before a tragedy unfolds.
AI-powered AR glasses with open API capabilities are a key advancement in weapons detection technology.
Security officers donโt always have the bandwidth to stare at monitors or check notifications while also responding to visitor activity.
AR glasses can project real-time alerts right into an officerโs field of vision, allowing them to stay focused on their task and decide whether the alert merits additional support or attention.
Key features of AI glasses:
Example scenario: Picture a security officer patrolling a packed football stadium.
Thousands of fans in various states of excitement and pre-game celebratory drinking move through checkpoints.
Suddenly, a silent alert flashes in the officerโs AR glasses: “Firearm detected at Entrance B101.”
Without drawing attention, security officers from other gates can move in to address the threat before something more serious occurs.
Pairing AI-driven weapons detection with AR glasses helps create a powerful, synchronized security deterrence for modern venues.
Backed by AI and the most advanced, AI-ready chips, weapons detection technology employing X-ray scanners and gate scanners detect potential threats with greater accuracy and speed than ever before.
AR glasses deliver instant alerts to security officers, ensuring rapid response to potential threats.
How AI and AR glasses enhance security:
Real-world applications can vary as widely as the need for security does in our open, public environments:
New laws are drivers of the adoption of better security technology such as weapons detection systems.
For instance, Californiaโs Bill No. 2975 mandates concealed weapons detection systems in all hospital entrances by 2027.
Similar regulations could soon apply to schools and large venues in California and other states.
AI and AR solutions help organizations meet compliance standards while keeping costs down:
Security threats are always evolving, which means outdated methods exclusively reliant upon human capital will continue struggling to keep up.
The future viability of venue security lies in its ability to not only comply with DHS and DOJ guidelines, it also depends on a successful adoption of breakthrough digital technologies like AR glasses and AI-powered weapons detection platforms.
Only then will the security capacity of venues experience the full power of technologyโs force multiplier effect as it seeks to improve its overall security posture.ย
Chris is the Co-Founder and CTO of Athena Security.
He is a serial entrepreneur and security expert with over 20 years of experience using technology to detect and prevent threats.ย
This article was originally published in the June edition of Security Journal Americas. To read your FREE digital edition,ย click here.
