Why did the AI system at Lawton Chiles Middle School flag a clarinet as a gun?

The AI system, designed to detect weapons, mistook the shape and posture of a student holding a clarinet like a rifle for an actual firearm.

What happened after the AI alert at the Florida middle school?

Law enforcement responded to the school, which went into lockdown. The situation was resolved when officers discovered the 'suspected weapon' was a clarinet.

Are AI surveillance systems reliable for school security?

While intended to enhance safety, AI surveillance systems have shown potential for errors, leading to false alarms and raising concerns among experts.

Home / Education / AI Mistake: Clarinet Sparks School Lockdown

AI Mistake: Clarinet Sparks School Lockdown

17 Dec, 2025

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Summary

An AI system mistook a clarinet for a rifle, causing a lockdown.
A student in a military costume was the focus of the false alarm.
This incident highlights concerns about AI reliability in schools.

AI Mistake: Clarinet Sparks School Lockdown

An AI-powered surveillance system mistakenly identified a clarinet as a rifle at Lawton Chiles Middle School in Oviedo, Florida, leading to a campus lockdown last week. The system alerted law enforcement to a student dressed in a military costume with what appeared to be a weapon. Responding officers found the student holding a clarinet, leading to the alarm being quickly resolved.

Seminole County Public Schools, like many districts nationwide, employs AI surveillance to enhance campus security amid concerns over school shootings. The ZeroEyes system scans footage for threats, but this incident, alongside others like a misidentification of chips as a weapon in Maryland, underscores the fallibility of such technologies. Experts express concerns about undue student stress and the potential for 'alarm fatigue' from frequent false positives.

ZeroEyes defends its system, stating trained employees review alerts and that the software aims to be proactive. They noted the student was holding the clarinet in a manner resembling a rifle. While no threat was present, school officials urged parents to discuss the dangers of simulating weapons on campus. The company has operated in 48 states, detecting over 1,000 weapons in three years, but critics cite its unproven nature and potential privacy issues.