LANSING — Michigan’s State Capitol is the first in the nation to deploy a gun detection system using artificial intelligence for security.

The new system, called ZeroEyes, detects threats through surveillance cameras indoors and outdoors. In theory, if AI detects a device that resembles a gun, an alert will be sent to human security watchers who can then sound the Capitol’s emergency alarm.

The executive director of the State Capitol Commission, Robert Blackshaw, said the system will reassure visitors.

He said the commission takes a safe environment seriously.

“We want a safe place for everyone to come visit,” Blackshaw said. “We want more people to come and visit this beautiful building.”

The system is expected to cost $3,000 a month, which will come out of the existing security fund.

“The last I heard that there was some potential issues regarding the use of the detection devices,” said Jerry Warnemuende, the Michigan Coalition For Responsible Gun Owners director for Southwest Michigan.

More questions were referred to the coalition’s media contact who couldn’t be reached.

After the commission voted unanimously to ban concealed carry weapons on Capitol grounds, it began searching for software surveillance programs in August.

It chose ZeroEyes because of the human verification needed before an alert is sounded, Blackshaw said. The system went into operation in late November.