Going to the vending machine – want something? Soda? Chewing gum? One bullet or two?
A growing number of supermarkets in Alabama, Oklahoma and Texas are selling bullets with AI-powered vending machines, as first reported by Alabama’s Tuscaloosa yarn. The company behind the machines, a Texas-based venture called American Rounds, claims on its website that its dystopian bullet kiosks are equipped with “integrated AI technology” and “facial recognition software”. which supposedly allow the devices to “thoroughly verify the identity and age of each shopper”. As shown in a promotional video, using one is a remarkably simple process: walk up to the kiosk, provide identification and leave a camera scan your face If its embedded facial recognition technology says you are who you say you are, the automated machine coughs up a few bullets.
Oh, and these aren’t Vending machines, in itself. According to American Rounds, these are “automated retail ammo dispensers.”
“Our smart automated retail ammo dispensers,” reads the company’s website, “have built-in AI technology, card scanning capabilities and facial recognition software.” The site adds that American Rounds is “on the cutting edge of retail ammunition technology” and is “constantly evolving to incorporate the latest advances in AI and machine learning.”
It’s a strange — and uniquely American — twist on the AI-in-everything trend, and a strange new use of controversial surveillance technology from a serious energy company, don’t step on me. And although the device raises a number of safety and ethical concerns, most people’s first question, we assume, is immediate: why?
According to American Rounds, the main objective is convenience. Its machines are accessible “24/7,” its website reads, “ensuring you can buy ammunition on your schedule, without the constraints of store hours and long lines.”
While this may be an attractive offer to some people, others may argue that bullets are just one of those things that one has to stand in line for. Although it is incredibly easy to purchase firearms and ammunition in many US states, human rights workers still retain the right to deny purchases to individuals for any reason (barring discrimination against protected classes, which does happen.) Thus, in cases where a potential buyer seems unstable or up to no good, the human intermediary with a gut feeling may be the only barrier between that buyer and ammunition. American Rounds claims its machine can reliably confirm age and identity. However, the devices seem ill-equipped to protect against the sale of ammunition to someone in a clearly debilitated state of mind.
American Rounds also has not yet disclosed which facial recognition software provider it is using to power its devices. And to that end, it’s worth noting that facial recognition technology is far from reliable; Although the algorithms are generally quite good at identifying white men under ideal conditions, the technology is well-documented to be significantly worse at identifying women and racial minorities.
Furthermore, the company has remained quite vague about its privacy terms. Although American Rounds CEO Grant Magers has stated that the company is not selling facial recognition data, there are no terms or privacy agreements available to view on the company’s website. And in the many videos available of the terminal in action, it doesn’t seem to flash any privacy policy notices or warnings. Given that this machine is designed to scan your face and ID while you make a sensitive purchase, that seems like a big deal!
We’ve reached out to American Rounds to ask about its privacy standards, data practices and facial recognition software provider, but have not received a response.
As it stands, the legality of the devices remains unclear. Although officials in Tuscaloosa, where two machines are installed, told him thread that the equipment is in full compliance with Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives standards, Newsweek notes that at least one of the devices has been removed amid a Tuscaloosa City Council investigation into its legal status.
“This is what the founding fathers intended!” Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox joked about it Yarn.
Magers, meanwhile, argues that his devices will only help reduce levels of ammunition theft and illegal sales to underage buyers. And according to him? Demand for its lead ATMs is only growing.
“We have over 200 requests in stores for AARM [Automated Ammo Retail Machine] units covering approximately nine states currently,” the CEO said Newsweek“and that number is growing every day.”
More on AI use cases: Wendy’s says its AI intercepts only 14 percent of drive-thru orders