Top China university stops using AI to spot absent-minded students after backlash
A top university in China’s eastern Jiangsu province has rolled back a controversial feature of its AI-powered classroom tracking system following fierce public backlash. Students at Nanjing University were recently notified by the university that it would begin using its “smart classroom” system – upgraded over the summer – to record full attendance rates over a one-week period, Chinese media…
Nanjing University in China's Jiangsu province has scrapped a contentious AI feature from its classroom tracking system after receiving widespread public criticism. Students learned via the university that it would commence using its upgraded "smart classroom" system to monitor full attendance throughout a one-week span, according to Chinese media reporting on Wednesday.
Outraged by leaked screenshots suggesting the AI-powered software featured live classroom footage alongside real-time monitoring of tardiness, attendance figures, and an "attention rate" aimed at gauging student focus, the backlash intensified. The "attention rate," or "taitou lu" in Chinese, calculated whether students were actively engaged during lectures, rather than sleeping or distracted by their mobile devices or laptops.
In response to the public outcry, the university swiftly clarified that the surveillance system, part of its efforts to gauge teaching quality, would not arbitrarily target students. An official university statement on its social media platform on Wednesday, clarified that the viral screenshot originated from an unauthorized trial in May and that the system "no longer computes attention rates."
The university activated the smart system in early November when notifying students about its rollout via group chats; however, some educators warned the attendance records would directly influence grades and potentially bar students from taking exams.
The smart system, costing over 30 million yuan (US$4.5 million), incorporated cameras and AI algorithms capable of facial recognition and crowd-counting, allowing administrators to automate roll calls, track attendance, and monitor attentiveness via the calculated attention rate. While some students acknowledged having yet to experience the impact of the new system, they expressed unease over privacy concerns regarding automated classroom discipline and the lack of consent.
Faculty members at Nanjing University noted the university's intention to monitor teachers' performance rather than individual students, and expressed frustration that students' device usage during lectures further undermined the teaching experience.
Written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
