SplitSec AI Nominated for the 2026 Edison Awards: Turning Everyday Smartphones into Life-Saving Devices
10 November 2025•4 min read
Innovation has always been at the heart of Chicago — from architecture and design to technology and entrepreneurship. This year, SplitSec AI is honored to be among the nominees for the 2025 Chicago Innovation Awards, recognizing our breakthrough work in privacy-first, AI-powered gunshot detection.
Why This Nomination Matters
The Chicago Innovation Awards celebrate bold ideas that have the potential to improve lives and strengthen communities. For us, this recognition is more than a milestone; it's validation that the future of public safety must include both speed and privacy.
SplitSec AI's nomination highlights our role as a Chicago-based pioneer dedicated to protecting people in real time, without surveillance.
A Chicago-Built Solution for a National Challenge
Our roots in Chicago matter. Gun violence has touched communities across the nation, but especially in urban centers where response time is critical. Being recognized here, in a city that understands the urgency of safety innovation, makes this honor especially meaningful.
"SplitSec alerts you when every second counts. People are often unaware that a shooting is happening, wasting precious time. Using their smartphone, our technology alerts them immediately, potentially saving their life. We're honored to stand alongside other Chicago innovators who are pushing boundaries to enhance quality of life for all human beings."
— Sridhar Deivasigamani, Founder & CEO
The Technology Behind the Recognition
What sets SplitSec AI apart is our on-device machine learning model. Here's what makes it special:
- Fast On-Device Analysis - Detection analysis is designed to occur on-device with response times that may be under a second under supported conditions, depending on factors such as device performance, environment, and testing conditions
- Extensively Trained - Over 30,000 real-world sounds in training data
- On-Device Analysis - Sound analysis runs on the device. Features that rely on corroboration between devices, notifications, or alert delivery require connectivity
- Privacy Preserved - Raw audio is never transmitted to SplitSec
"We are about your safety, not surveillance."
— Cheng-Ning Jong, Patent & IP Counsel
Looking Ahead
Being nominated for the Chicago Innovation Awards is just the beginning. We're preparing for:
- Public Beta - Later this fall
- Full App Launch - Early 2026
- Widespread Availability - For individuals, families, schools, and communities everywhere
Gratitude and Next Steps
We're deeply grateful to the Chicago Innovation Awards for recognizing our work, and to the broader Chicago community for inspiring us to think bigger.
To everyone who believes in the power of AI for good, we invite you to join us. Sign up for early access and help us shape a safer, privacy-first future.
Together, we can prove that innovation doesn't just change industries — it saves lives.