Intel’s Classroom Face-Reading AI Can Detect Boredom, Raises Skepticism

Last month, Intel announced a new partnership with Class Technologies, which it posited would “improve learner engagement in virtual and hybrid classroom settings.”

“Intel is dedicated to ensuring teachers and students have access to the technologies and tools needed to meet the challenges of the changing world. Through technology, we have the ability to set the standard for impactful synchronous online learning experiences that empower educators,” the brand said.

However, it appears that the service, which builds upon video conferencing app Zoom, has come under fire after it was revealed to be monitoring and analyzing students’ facial expressions and emotions.

According to a report by Protocol, the company claims the system can infer if students are bored, distracted, or confused, then feed these insights back to teachers to allow them to “better communicate” in their virtual lessons.

Critics aren’t so sure this approach is feasible, arguing that it isn’t as easy to accurately determine someone’s feelings just through their facial expressions, especially in an online context.

At the moment, Class tracks how often students raise their hands in class, and even allows teachers to look at what their class is viewing on their personal laptops if pupils are made to share their screens.

Could such technology be blurring the boundaries between wanting to create a more conducive classroom environment and infringing upon these students’ privacy?

Nandita Sampath, a policy analyst with Consumer Reports, told Protocol she felt this may lead to students trying to police how they appear in the digital classroom, and pointed out there may not be any accountability if the system leads to negative outcomes for a pupil based on its assessment. 

While Intel says its technology would only be a piece of the puzzle that educators combine with other signals to holistically assess students, there’s no doubt being constantly watched during a study session may leave a sour taste in the mouth of students worldwide. 

[via TechRadar and Protocol, cover image via Seventyfourimages | Dreamstime.com]