Real-time AI surveillance targets college entrance exam cheating

The provinces of Jiangxi, Hubei, and Guangdong are among the regions in China rolling out real-time AI monitoring systems to crack down on cheating as the annual national college entrance exam, or gaokao, approaches.

"Starting this year, all exam venues will comprehensively implement AI-powered real-time monitoring. Any abnormal behavior or violations will be instantly captured and promptly handled by relevant personnel," said an open letter from Ganzhou's education exam center in Jiangxi.

Neighboring Hubei province will also deploy AI patrols this year.

According to Jimu News, the Hubei Provincial Education Examination Institute announced on May 21 that the province will use a combination of identity verification, smart security checks, and manual inspections to curb cheating.

Yangjiang in Guangdong is also joining the AI-powered monitoring trend.

According to Yangjiang Radio and Television Station, 15 exam venues in the city will utilize AI-powered monitoring systems.

Xie Gexiong, deputy general manager of China Telecom Yangjiang branch, mentioned in an interview with The Paper that this AI monitoring system primarily utilizes China Telecom's computer vision analysis, AI behavior recognition algorithms, and big data technology.

By capturing real-time classroom footage through cameras, the AI algorithm automatically matches 40 types of abnormal behavior models.

Even subtle gestures or item exchanges among candidates can be monitored, triggering alerts before manual verification by proctors, he added.

Students who've experienced the AI-monitored gaokao say there's no need to fear false alarms as human proctors make the final call.

"AI only assists. Final decisions still rest with human exam supervisors," said Wang Tianlong on Xiaohongshu, who took the exam in Guangdong last year.

A record 13.35 million students are registered for this year's national college entrance exam.