AI Under Watch: How Facilities Teams Balance AI-Powered Surveillance with Human Judgment
Written by Lauren Brant for Buildings on Aug. 12, 2026
AI is transforming how facilities teams monitor buildings and respond to threats, but faster detection doesn’t mean less need for people in the loop. In a new feature, GMR Security Consulting Group Founder and CEO Mary Gates joins other industry experts to unpack what’s working, what’s overhyped, and where AI-powered security systems still fall short.
The conversation covers the real cost of false alarms in high-occupancy properties, why “set it and forget it” AI deployment is a recipe for trouble, and how combining data across cameras, access control, and sensors makes threat detection dramatically more reliable. As Gates puts it, the goal isn’t to replace security teams with technology — it’s to make them faster and sharper.
“AI is most effective when it’s a force multiplier,” says Mary Gates, Founder & CEO, GMR Security Consulting Group.
Basia Pietrawska, from our partners at IntelFusion, added, “The number one mistake I see with clients, not just with AI technology, but honestly any technology, is not asking yourself, ‘What is the problem I’m trying to solve or operational challenge, or what improvements are we looking for?’”
The piece also digs into why pilot programs matter, how to avoid the “boy who cried wolf” trap with repeated false alerts, and what it really takes to move a facility’s security posture from reactive to proactive.
Read the full article on Buildings.com: AI Under Watch: How Facilities Teams Balance AI-Powered Surveillance with Human Judgment