Air Force Officials Unveils INSANE New Tactic To Bring Down Mass Shooters
(RepublicanNews.org) – The US has experienced a string of mass shootings in the last couple of months. As politicians attack and defend the need for certain guns to remain accessible, the US Air Force is exploring a new way to stop these tragedies. They’re testing drones equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) capable of targeting active shooters.
Neutralizing a Threat
The devices the Air Force hopes to use would first be used to halt shooters at US military bases, at least initially. JT Wilkins, the Senior Vice President of Government Solutions at ZeroEyes, told National Defense Magazine the whole purpose behind the proposal is to use a robot or drone to prevent an active threat from causing more damage. The company has already installed special cameras that detect the presence of firearms at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, and wants to use the same technology in the drones, which then use a number of non-lethal means to neutralize the threat.
Not Alone
Wilkins noted that, on average, a gunman will expose their weapon between 2-30 minutes before they open fire. That gives the AI a window to detect the gun and disorient the shooter before they can cause harm. Additionally, the robots won’t be working alone; they’ll have humans to review whether or not they’ve actually detected a threat before launching their countermeasures.
According to Wilkins, AI will at one point have a false positive; the human element is there to verify the situation. After confirming a threat, the reviewer can send in the drones or robots. It’s important to note these machines will not be replacing law enforcement or security. Instead, they will assist first responders on their way to the location.
Expanding Horizons
The tech may be getting tested at Air Force bases first, but Wilkins noted the technology isn’t exclusive to the military. The senior vice president mentioned that ZeroEyes has 50 commercial clients as well. Wilkins told the magazine he expects more places to adopt the AI and drones once his company fully develops the system.
While this AI is undoubtedly designed to protect the vulnerable, it doesn’t come without risks. A gun-detecting drone may be able to stop a threat, but what about the good people with guns on military bases? How does ZeroEyes plan to mitigate the risk of the AI going after a person who is supposed to be carrying a firearm on base? It is a military installation, after all. Or, what if the military decides it wants to hijack the technology and use it for its own interests?
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