Synaedge launches AI weapon detection for smaller businesses in the DACH region

Zurich, 17 June 2026. Armed robberies targeting kiosks, petrol stations, late-night shops or night businesses put employees into extreme situations within seconds. In such moments, police authorities clearly advise against intervening, resisting, or triggering an alarm themselves. But that is exactly when often no one is able to call for help actively anymore.

The Zurich-based company Synaedge therefore brings to market the cloud-based security solution based on the AI Weapon Detector that can automatically detect visible firearms and stabbing weapons via existing security cameras. The solution alerts a certified 24/7 alarm center in the background, without employees having to intervene.

The AI Weapon Detector is based on the AI video analytics platform Vaidio. Synaedge provides the solution as a fully managed AI Security as a Service cloud service for the DACH region. The target group is especially smaller businesses with an increased security risk, including kiosks, petrol stations, pharmacies, bars, clubs and other businesses with a cash area.

Highly specialized AI video analytics of this kind have so far primarily been reserved for enterprise and government environments due to their technical complexity and infrastructure costs. The AI Weapon Detector is intended to make this security infrastructure accessible to smaller businesses for the first time.

Automatic alerting without active intervention

A preconfigured plug-and-play gateway connects the existing camera infrastructure securely with the analytics platform in the Swiss cloud. If the AI detects a visible weapon, the connected certified 24/7 alarm center is automatically alerted.

There, trained security staff review every report and, in the event of a confirmed threat, notify the police. No alarm automatically triggers a police deployment. Every detection is first verified by humans.

“Many smaller businesses already have security cameras, but they do not have access to modern security infrastructure or automated escalation processes. That is exactly what we want to change.”

Anne-Katrin Michelmann, Synaedge

According to Synaedge, a particular focus is on providing psychological relief for employees. In an emergency, they do not have to actively trigger an alarm or respond discreetly. Alerting runs automatically in the background.

Through the mobile app of the alarm management platform evalink, operators can additionally keep an eye on the status of ongoing incidents at any time.

Continue using existing cameras or a dedicated setup

In many cases, businesses can continue to use their existing compatible IP cameras. As a result, the solution can often be activated quickly using existing infrastructure.

Alternatively, Synaedge offers the AI Weapon Detector as a dedicated security setup as well, with camera models from Axis, Hanwha or Geutebrück. For branch operations with multiple locations, a centrally managed system with expanded AI video analytics functions for retail is also available.

Data protection through clear purpose limitation

According to Synaedge, data protection and clear purpose limitation were deliberately taken into account during implementation. The solution does not use facial recognition, no biometric identification and no behavioural analysis of people.

If no weapon is detected, no data is stored. The AI analyzes the images exclusively in real time for visible threats, without building up historical records.

In the event of an alarm, the alarm center receives only a screenshot of the detected incident—however, it does not receive permanent live access to the cameras.

All AI analysis runs GDPR-compliantly in a Swiss cloud infrastructure in Tier III nLighten data center in Zurich. In doing so, Synaedge deliberately avoids classic US hyperscalers and uses data processing within Switzerland.

Availability and price

The AI Weapon Detector is available starting immediately as a monthly cloud subscription and costs 129 EUR/CHF per month for the first camera. Each additional camera costs 89 EUR/CHF per month, in each case excluding VAT.

In addition, a preconfigured plug-and-play gateway for up to five cameras is provided per location, including technical setup and a function test with the alarm center.

More information: weapondetector.ai