Can Artificial Intelligence Prevent School Violence? - IEEE Innovation at Work

More and more frequently, schools across the United States are turning to artificial intelligence-backed solutions to stop tragic acts of student violence. Companies like Bark Technologies, Gaggle.net, and Securly, Inc., are using a combination of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) along with trained human safety experts to scan student emails, texts, documents, and in some cases, social media activity. They're looking for warning signs of cyber bullying, sexting, drug and alcohol use, depression, and to flag students who may pose a violent risk not only to themselves, but to classmates as well. Any potential problems discovered trigger alerts to school administration, parents, and law enforcement officials, depending on the severity. Bark ran a test pilot of its program with 25 schools in fall 2017. Bark chief parent officer, Titania Jordan, says, "We found some pretty alarming issues, including a bombing and school shooting threat."