Polish artificial intelligence will protect children online
Samurai Labs - a Polish artificial intelligence laboratory - is ready to protect children from cyberbullying and other dangers lurking on the internet. Using third-wave artificial intelligence, the Samurai system not only prevents violence but also responds in crisis situations when a child shows suicidal behaviour.
Lockdown increases threats
The time of lockdown and social distancing has a real impact on the level of online threats. UNICEF drew attention to the problem, warning about the rise in activity of sex offenders using so-called child grooming, which involves forming an emotional bond with a child in order to then sexually exploit them. The level of aggression on forums and chats is also rising. During the pandemic, the level of hate speech increased by 70 per cent, and the toxicity of statements by more than 40 per cent. There are also increasingly frequent reports of suicides among minors, the main causes of which are isolation and domestic violence.
The answer to the rise in online threats may be the system developed by Samurai Labs, whose main task is to protect children from the whole spectrum of negative events to which they are exposed while spending time on the internet. – Samurai's artificial intelligence is the first system in Poland and in the world that protects the youngest users in real time. Through detailed content analysis, we can assess when a child on a chat or forum is "on the edge" and crying out for help. The system recognises the characteristics of suicidal intent, giving a signal that something disturbing is happening and automatically connects the child with professional help, thanks to which a tragedy can be prevented – explains Michał Wroczyński, co-founder and CEO of Samurai Labs.
The system responds in real time
The solution developed by Polish artificial intelligence experts not only detects suicidal behaviour and connects a potential victim with professional help. Samurai can also genuinely reduce the level of violence on chats and forums.
– Our solution automatically responds to detected cases of cyberbullying. If a child is being attacked, Samurai intervenes by blocking the message in question. This makes it possible to stop the violence in its infancy, before it has a chance to escalate – explains Wroczyński.
The wave of cyberbullying is growing
The scale of the problem is enormous. As the FBI reports, even before the pandemic more than 750,000 predators were roaming the web at any given moment. Today, when almost every child uses the internet every day, the scale of sex offenders' activity is increasing significantly.
– Every day, dramas involving children and young people play out on the internet. We believe that the technology which contributed to this situation can also effectively fight these threats. That is what Samurai is for - our warrior in the care for the safety of the youngest. One of the most terrifying consequences of the pandemic may be an increase in the number of suicides. We can stop this wave – summarises Michał Wroczyński, CEO of Samurai Labs.
At a time when all social interactions have moved into the virtual world, threats to the youngest are increasing. The proprietary solution of the Polish "Samurai" will allow effective protection of the youngest internet users.
Summary
Samurai Labs, a Polish AI laboratory, has developed a system protecting children online from cyberbullying and threats related to pandemic isolation. The tool analyses content in real time, detects signals of suicidal intent and automatically connects the child with professional help. In addition, it blocks messages of a violent nature before they have a chance to escalate.
According to the FBI, even before the pandemic more than 750,000 predators were operating online, and during lockdown the level of hate speech rose by 70 per cent. It is the first such system in the world – emphasises CEO Michał Wroczyński, calling it a "warrior in the care for the safety of the youngest".
