Seattle, Washington. – Artificial intelligence is being used in more places than ever, but a group of former Navy SEALs say their technology is focused on one simple goal: stopping gun violence before it happens.
ZeroEyes is AI-powered software designed to detect firearms seen on security cameras before they are fired. The company says its technology is currently being used in approximately 100 businesses, schools and buildings in Washington state, including places of worship, grocery stores and school campuses.
ZeroEyes co-founder Sam Alaimo says the company was born out of military service and a renewed sense of purpose.
“I met my co-founders while I was in the Navy,” Alaimo said.
Alaimo met his co-founders in 2009. They served together in Afghanistan until retiring several years later.
“We wanted to fight the good fight and be helpful and cooperate, but then the Parkland shooting happened in 2018,” Alaimo said.
The Valentine's Day shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida left 14 students and three staff members dead. Alaimo said the tragedy added urgency to the mission and raised serious questions.
“How can we take advantage of the outdoor and indoor surveillance cameras that are already installed in every school in America?” Alaimo said.
ZeroEyes does not use facial recognition and does not stream live video. Instead, when artificial intelligence detects a gun visible on existing surveillance cameras, trained human analysts (all ex-military or law enforcement) verify the alert before it is sent.
Once confirmed, you will receive an alert within seconds.
“Within about three to five seconds, you'll be notified of the presence of the gun, its exact location, and the shooter's behavior,” Alaimo said.
Information, including the armed individual's location and the type of weapon believed to be in his possession, is immediately shared with local law enforcement. Alaimo said the goal is to find the gunman before shots are fired.
Here in Washington, the Camas School District is the only school district that Zero Eyes is willing to disclose as a customer. School district officials told FOX 13 the software has been in use district-wide and in all school buildings for three years.
School leaders said the system has so far only been activated by toy or prop guns, including during school plays, allowing school resource officers to respond quickly and ensure there was no actual threat.
Alaimo says the impact of technology is enormous.
“Even if you stop someone from walking into an elementary school with an assault rifle, you never know what damage you might have prevented when that person is arrested by police. It's rewarding every time that happens,” he said.
ZeroEyes says its technology is not intended to replace existing school safety measures, but to add another layer designed to buy you valuable time when it matters most.
More news from FOX 13 Seattle
Seattle's new mayor Katie Wilson talks homelessness, police tensions and the World Cup countdown
Seattle leaders fight 'misinformation', say drug use outdoors still means arrest
Here's everything you need to know about the 2026 Super Bowl
Seattle ranks as the best US city to keep your 2026 New Year's resolutions, according to data
Washington state trooper hit and injured in multi-vehicle crash on SR 512
Sign up for our daily news to get the latest Seattle local news, weather and sports for free. FOX Seattle Newsletter.
Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile. Apple App Store or Google Play Store See Seattle's live news, top stories, weather and other local and national news.
source: Information in this article comes from ZeroEyes and original FOX 13 Seattle reporting and interviews.
