NEW YORK — A pilot program testing AI-powered weapons scanners in select New York City subway stations this summer did not identify any passengers carrying firearms, yet it generated over 100 false alerts, as revealed by recent police data.
During approximately 3,000 scans, the devices registered 118 false positives and flagged 12 knives. Authorities declined to clarify whether the knives were illegal weapons or permitted items such as pocket knives.
Mayor Eric Adams introduced these portable scanners, produced by Evolv, aiming to enhance safety in the subway amidst recent violent incidents. The initiative faced skepticism from riders and civil rights advocates, who questioned the practicality and legality of scanning millions of daily passengers at numerous station entrances.
Following a commitment to disclose the pilot’s results, the New York Police Department reported 2,749 scans across 20 stations within a month, yielding a false positive rate of 4.29%.
The police statement did not clarify the duration of each scan, the staffing required for the devices, or the number of riders who opted out of the screenings. Questions directed at Evolv went unanswered.
A police spokesperson noted that assessments of the pilot’s effectiveness are ongoing, with no contracts established with Evolv as of now.
Mayor Adams, a supporter of the Massachusetts-based company since taking office, previously installed the scanners at a city hospital and plans to deploy them in public schools.
Evolv has encountered legal challenges in recent years, including investigations into its marketing practices by federal authorities. Additionally, a class-action lawsuit was filed by investors, accusing the company of misrepresenting its devices’ effectiveness.
In response to the pilot’s findings, the Legal Aid Society described the results as "objectively a failure," urging the city to abandon the program due to mounting evidence against the use of Evolv’s weapons detectors. They emphasized the crucial need to reconsider the future of this controversial technology.
