ISB’s Hackathon Concludes with Innovative Solutions to Combat AI-Driven Misinformation

 The ISB Institute of Data Science (IIDS), in collaboration with the Cyber Peace Foundation and supported by Google.org, recently concluded its Hackathon at the Hyderabad campus of the Indian School of Business (ISB). The event brought together 28 teams to address critical challenges posed by the proliferation of AI-generated misinformation and deepfakes.

The participating teams addressed the following four key problem statements:

Countermeasures for Misinformation and Detection Plugins: Participants developed innovative tools and techniques to identify and mitigate the spread of false information online. Solutions focused on identifying patterns of misinformation, verifying sources, and developing user-friendly tools to flag suspicious content. The aim was to create a more resilient digital environment less susceptible to the manipulation of public opinion.

Real-time Deepfake Detection in Video Conferences: Teams focused on creating technology capable of identifying deepfakes in real-time during video conferences, a rapidly growing concern for both businesses and individuals. Solutions explored various methods for analysing video streams and identifying subtle anomalies indicative of manipulation. The goal was to provide immediate alerts and enhance trust in online interactions.

Detection & Verification of AI-Generated Video Content: Participants designed tools to determine the authenticity of video content, a significant challenge in the age of readily available AI-powered video generation tools. Solutions ranged from advanced image analysis techniques to sophisticated algorithms designed to identify inconsistencies or manipulations in video data. The objective was to empower users to assess the credibility of online video content more effectively.

Ethical AI Framework for Content Creation: This challenge addressed the responsible development and deployment of AI-based content generation tools. Teams worked to establish ethical guidelines and implement automated checks to prevent the misuse of these powerful technologies. The focus was to promote responsible innovation and prevent harmful applications of AI-generated content.

“This Hackathon showcased the remarkable talent and ingenuity of India’s young tech leaders in tackling the complex challenges of AI-driven misinformation,” said Professor Manish Gangwar, Executive Director, ISB Institute of Data Science. “Their innovative solutions offer a promising path towards building a more secure and trustworthy digital ecosystem.”

Award Winners:

Vineet Kumar, Founder of CyberPeace, underlined, “We are incredibly impressed by the creativity and dedication of the participants. This Hackathon highlights the urgent need for collaborative efforts between academia, industry, and civil society to combat the spread of misinformation and ensure a safer digital world.”