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 halted the use of AI in its classroom tracking system following public outrage. The university had upgraded its "smart classroom" system, which recorded full attendance rates over a week, but faced backlash when leaked screenshots showed AI-powered footage with real-time data tracking absent-mindedness.
The controversial "head-up rate" metric calculated attentiveness, sparking debates over privacy, algorithmic surveillance, and unchecked AI monitoring. The university clarified that the system was part of quality tracking and would not use facial recognition without consent. The viral screenshot was from a trial in May, and the system no longer calculates head-up rates.
The university installed the smart system for 30 million yuan, upgrading over 100 classrooms and public areas. Students were concerned about privacy and potential impact on grades, feeling uneasy about automated discipline. The university aimed to upgrade the audiovisual environment, enable live-streaming, and support playback of lessons.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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