The new enterprise solution advances security with centralized cloud checks to boost speed, accuracy, and reliability across multi-site X-ray screening systems.

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Athena Security, a leader in physical security solutions, has announced the release of its new, centralized “Second Look” AI X-ray screening system. This innovative on-premise solution is a local-to-cloud-based platform designed to improve the accuracy and efficiency of multi-site X-ray screening by combining the power of artificial intelligence (AI) with the critical oversight of skilled human operators. This new centralized AI platform addresses the need for additional trained eyes in the security screening process and helps to ensure that threats aren’t missed.

The Challenge of Error in Security Screening

While X-ray screening technology has become a cornerstone of security, a significant threat remains, which is error. Studies on security and visual inspection have shown that human performance alone can be inconsistent, with factors like fatigue, distraction, and the low prevalence of threats leading to missed items. According to a Research Gate study on X-ray baggage screeners, performance declines over time without breaks, and prolonged scanning leads to higher error rates in detecting threats.

Humans are especially vulnerable to sophisticated camouflage, where a weapon’s shape is obscured by other objects like a computer or cables. Research shows that occluded or overlapped prohibited items remain among the most challenging conditions for screeners and AI alike to correctly identify.

Similarly, while AI can automate initial analysis, it too isn’t perfect. Deep learning models tested on cluttered X-ray security imagery achieved high accuracy in object localization but only moderate performance in anomaly detection, showing how hidden or camouflaged threats can still evade detection. This underscores the need for a second, expert human review.

Studies continue to show the scope of these vulnerabilities:

Research on the prevalence effect found that when prohibited items are rare (less than 1% of cases), screeners can miss them up to 30% of the time.
At the same time, Expert screeners have been shown to achieve significantly higher detection performance than novices. Yet even experts still miss items under time pressure and fatigue.

The Solution: Human-AI Partnership

Athena Security’s new platform provides an enhanced, more reliable approach to X-ray screening. Here’s how it works:

Initial AI Analysis: At a location with up to 5 X-ray machines, visitors place their bags on a conveyor. Each bag is first scanned by the on-site AI, which uses computer vision to detect potential threats.
Threat Detection: If the AI X-ray determines the bag contains a threat, the system alerts the on-site operator and the human operator follows the prescribed protocol to address the potential threat.
Centralized, “Second Look” AI: If the on-site AI determines an image is “all clear,” the image is automatically sent to a central, secure hub where a second, more powerful cloud-based AI quickly re-scans the image. This centralized AI is specifically trained to look for any confusing areas of an image and flag it for the centralized human expert to review—such as items hidden under other objects, like cables or laptops.
Centralized Human Verification: A trained human operator at the central hub will review the images flagged for additional review by the “Second Look” AI. This targeted “flagged only” verification allows the human operators to be fresh and focused, significantly reducing the chances of error. If the human operator spots a hidden threat that the AI missed, they can override the “clear” status.
Immediate On-Site Alert: If the centralized human operator identifies a threat, the system sends an immediate alert to the operator at the on-site X-ray station. This enables the operator to perform a physical check of the bag or a re-scan. The entire centralized review and verification process occurs within a total of 5-7 seconds.
Trained Staffing Options: Customers may provide their own trained staff and license this feature, or use the Athena trained staff with the feature.

This collaborative, Human-AI screening model leverages the speed and efficiency of AI while maintaining the crucial final judgment of a human expert. It enables organizations to save costs by reducing the number of trained staff needed at each location, while simultaneously increasing security effectiveness by ensuring that a vigilant, centralized team is always providing a final review of potentially problematic images.

“In security, the human element is both our greatest strength and our most significant vulnerability,” said Lisa Falzone, co-founder and President of Athena Security. “Our new solution recognizes that AI is a powerful tool, but it’s not infallible. By combining AI’s speed with the trained human eye, we’ve created a system that is not only more efficient, but fundamentally safer for everyone.”

The entire system is powered by an Apple iPad, making it incredibly intuitive and simple to use. This streamlined design drastically reduces training time and minimizes the potential for user error, allowing your team to get to work faster and with more confidence. Download the weapons detection system app with AI X-Ray on the Apple App Store

About Athena Security
Athena Security is a leading provider of AI-enabled physical security solutions. Founded by Revel Systems co-founders Lisa Falzone, Chris Ciabarra, and Michael Green, Athena Security was first to market with AI evasion detection and has since integrated AI Assisted X-ray, AthenaVision AR Alert Glasses and Telepresence Security Officers. Athena Security continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible and leads the industry in developing advanced weapons detection and security technology. Athena Security partners with organizations across industries to enhance their security posture and help protect individuals in schools, hospitals, retail and public spaces across the globe. Athena Security is headquartered in Austin, Texas, and San Francisco, California, with a remote office in Jacksonville, Florida. To learn more, visit www.Athena-Security.com.