ITTech Pulse Exclusive Interview with Chris Ciabarra Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Athena Security

Chris Ciabarra, Co-Founder of Athena Security, in an exclusive ITTech Pulse interview, explains how edge-based AI enables real-time weapon detection and proactive threat prevention.

Chris, your career spans entrepreneurship, AI innovation, and security technology. Could you share how your professional journey led to co-founding Athena Security and focusing on AI-driven physical security solutions?

My professional journey at Revel Systems has always been about leveraging technology to solve high-stakes problems that no one else has done. After my previous experiences in the tech sector, I realized there was a profound gap in how society handled physical threats. In 2018, my co-founders and I launched Athena Security INC with a singular, mission-driven focus: to help save lives. We saw that traditional security was reactive—reviewing footage after a tragedy. We wanted to build a proactive system that could identify threats, specifically concealed weapons, in real-time to prevent incidents before they start for our kids.

With AI increasingly used in physical security environments, how do you see intelligent automation transforming traditional security operations, particularly in high-risk settings like hospitals, schools, and public venues?

Intelligent automation is shifting the role of a security officer from a “monitor watcher” to a “responder.”

• Hospitals, Events & Schools: These environments require a balance of safety and a welcoming atmosphere. AI allows for high-throughput screening, meaning people can walk through at a natural pace without the friction of a traditional “shakedown” metal detector.
• Operational Intelligence: It transforms security from a cost center into a data-driven operation, providing leaders with exact metrics on visitor flow and potential threats.

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ITTech Pulse recently covered Athena Security launching AI agents powered by edge processing on Apple iPad. What inspired this innovation, and how does edge-based AI improve security efficiency and real-time response?

The inspiration for launching AI agents on the Apple iPad came from a need for mobility and simplicity. We use iPads for all our products to ensure a familiar, user-friendly interface. By putting the “AI Agent” on a mobile device:

• Efficiency: Officers are no longer tethered to a desk; they have the power of the Apple iPad edge device in their hands.
• Real-Time Response: When a threat is detected, the iPad provides an immediate visual alert (like a red box around a weapon), allowing for an instant, informed response.

Athena’s AI agents process directly on secure iPad devices at the edge. How does edge processing enhance reliability, latency, and operational resilience compared to traditional cloud-dependent security systems?

Processing directly on the iPad at the “edge” (rather than the cloud) is a game-changer for three reasons:

• Latency: Decisions happen in milliseconds. In a security crisis, every second counts.
• Reliability: If the facility’s Wi-Fi or internet goes down, the system doesn’t stop. The AI keeps screening locally.
• Privacy: Data can be processed and discarded on-site, reducing the risks associated with transmitting sensitive video feeds over the open internet.

Your AI agent framework automates repetitive security tasks while enabling officers to focus on judgment and response. How important is human-AI collaboration in creating safer and more effective security environments?

Human-AI collaboration is non-negotiable. AI is exceptional at pattern recognition and never gets tired, bored, or distracted—human traits that often lead to security lapses. However, humans are essential for judgment, empathy, and tactical response. Our framework automates the “search” so that the human can focus on the “solution.” AI identifies the object, but the officer manages the person.

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Athena continues expanding its AI-powered weapons detection, visitor management, and monitoring platforms. How do these innovations fit into Athena Security’s broader mission of building proactive, technology-driven safety systems?

Our concealed weapons detection system, hospital visitor management (VMS), and monitoring platforms are all pieces of a “Unified Entryway.” Our mission is to “help save lives” to create a seamless “Safety Stack.” By integrating these tools, we ensure that a hospital or school knows exactly who is entering, why they are there, and—most importantly—that they aren’t carrying a threat. It’s about moving from “security gates” to “intelligent thresholds.”

Looking toward 2026, what major trends do you expect in AI-powered physical security, edge computing, and automated threat detection as organizations adopt more intelligent security infrastructure?

As we move through 2026, I expect three major shifts:

• Hyper-Localization: More organizations will move away from “Cloud-only” to hybrid “Edge-first” architectures to ensure 100% uptime.
• Regulatory Compliance: With mandates like California AB 2975 bill, we will see automated weapons detection become a standard requirement in healthcare, not just an option.
• Agent AI: Systems will become more autonomous in their “self-healing”—checking their own system health and recalibrating themselves without human intervention.

For security leaders and technology teams deploying AI-enabled systems, what strategic advice would you offer to ensure organizations adopt intelligent security technologies responsibly while maintaining reliability, compliance, and public trust?

To ensure a responsible and effective deployment:

1. Prioritize Reliability: Never deploy a security system that relies solely on an internet connection.
2. Focus on Privacy: Choose systems that process data at the edge to maintain public trust and compliance.
3. Human-in-the-Loop: Always ensure that the final decision to intervene is made by a trained professional, guided by high-fidelity AI data.

Thank you, Mr. Chris, for taking the time to share your insights with us.

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