Seán O’Sullivan, a student from Croom in Limerick, has emerged as the winner of the 60th BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition. His project, aimed at detecting the use of AI in written work, impressed judges and fellow participants alike. Seán’s project took a unique approach by analyzing the author’s style in past examples of their writing. The software then utilized a Siamese neural network, a method inspired by the human brain, to process the data. This innovative system outperformed the seven most popular detection systems, achieving an impressive accuracy rate of 85%.
The significance of Seán’s project lies not only in its ability to detect AI-generated content, but also in its potential to combat plagiarism. By analyzing the author’s style, VerifyMe, as Seán named his software, can determine if someone other than the intended author performed the work. This functionality makes VerifyMe a valuable tool across various sectors impacted by the use of AI, such as academia and journalism.
Seán’s interest in the subject was sparked by the use of AI in schools, combined with the realization that these systems could not convincingly mimic specific authors. Hailing from Coláiste Chiaráin in Croom, Seán’s achievement also earned his school the title of best school in the Republic of Ireland.
The 17-year-old student admits his project was a result of extensive trial and error, emphasizing that success was largely due to iteration rather than the initial idea itself. Education Minister Norma Foley awarded Seán with the top prize during the exhibition’s ceremony at the RDS, where thousands of parents eagerly watched.
As the winner, Seán will not only receive a cheque worth €7,500, but also the opportunity to represent Ireland at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists. With his pioneering project, Seán O’Sullivan has undoubtedly left a lasting impact on the field of AI detection and inspired countless young minds to pursue their scientific passions.
The source of the article is from the blog toumai.es