DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Daytona Beach is set to become the first Florida city to use the AI software ZeroEyes to help detect firearms.

On January 22, Daytona Beach City Commissioners unanimously approved the purchase of the software, which will be used in the Seabreeze Entertainment District.


What You Need To Know

  • Daytona Beach City Commissioners unanimously approved the purchase of a software called ZeroEyes, which will be used in the Seabreeze Entertainment District
  • The city will be the first in the state to use the AI software to help detect firearms
  • Daytona Beach leaders say the technology will be integrated into existing cameras in the Seabreeze Entertainment District and other high-traffic public areas

Back in April, four people were hurt in a shooting outside Razzle’s Nightclub, which is in the Seabreeze Entertainment District.

Since then, business owners have said they welcome the idea of enhanced security in the area.

Lyle Trachtman, owner of Seabreeze Fine Jewelry, supports the city’s decision to implement the AI gun detections software ZeroEyes.

“I think anything they add is a deterrent," Trachtman said. "When something is here, they’re probably if they’re thinking about doing something. Chances are, hopefully they’ll be smart enough to go to a different area if they plan on doing something."

Daytona Beach leaders say the technology will be integrated into existing cameras in the Seabreeze Entertainment District and other high-traffic public areas.

“We take existing security cameras, we run our software on the backside of those cameras and that software is asking one question, 24/7, 365: Is there something that appears to be a firearm in the field of view of this camera?” JT Wilkins, senior vice president of sales for ZeroEyes said. 

He said the process takes a matter of seconds. 

If the threat is deemed valid, the Daytona Beach Police Department will receive an alert with information on the gun type and the individual’s last known location. 

“Each person that sits in those seats is either former military or former law enforcement with weapons training," Wilkins said of the human involvement in the system. "They’re going to look at that image and they’re going to human verify that."

Trachtman said he’s looking forward to the change. 

“This has always been a pretty safe area in the daytime, especially," he said. "I want it to become more and more of that in the evenings as well." 

Wilkins said the AI will only detect brandished firearms, not concealed firearms.

The Seminole County School District also uses ZeroEyes to help prevent school shootings.