St. Louis region high school students use AI-based software to curb breaches to cyber security
World Wide Technology, a St. Louis-based company, hosted its 10th annual student forum this past Saturday across the St. Louis region. High school students participated by submitting videos showcasing their AI-driven applications designed to help curb cybersecurity breaches in their schools.
Pattonville High School received $10,000 for their app “Ducky”, a browser extension with three main functions: detecting phishing emails, fact-checking social media posts and articles, and serving as an AI chatbot to help students improve their cybersecurity literacy.
“We all worked together as a team, everybody put in every ounce of effort that they had,” Pattonville High School student Mathew Cafeiro said. “It feels really good to win.”
Students at Bayless High School decided to use their computer science skills to create an app to help immigrants who do not speak English. Their presentation included a personal anecdote of a first-generation student who had to help his dad get out of phishing scheme situations, and translate the messages.
AI has boomed in the past few years, making it harder for teachers to keep up with new technologies. Stephanie Carsen, the computer science teacher at Pattonville, said she struggles knowing that the students oftentimes are more up-to-date on the newest technology. Teaching computer science has become more complicated, Carsen said.
“AI has definitely changed the way people teach,” Carsen said. “We do more stuff live in person. These kids definitely know more than me. I use Youtube, I network with people in the industry and look at news releases to keep up with the newest trends in technology.”
World Wide Technology representative Matt Hernando said the topic for each forum varies. Within the last four years, Hernando said, the forum started to focus on diversity and inclusion in the AI space.
“As we continue to grow within the industry, we just see opportunities of how we can help our community,” he said. “This was a good opportunity to take the community and come up with a working solution to helping their schools and community.”
Students at Bayless High School decided to use their computer science skills to create an app to help immigrants who do not speak English. Their presentation included a personal anecdote of a first-generation student who had to help his dad get out of phishing scheme situations, and translate the messages. The project aimed to create AI videos in multiple languages to raise awareness of cyber security threats. The high school won $2500 for their project.
World Wide Technology is a company founded by Dave Steward, the richest Black man in the country. The company focuses on ensuring everyone has the same opportunities when it comes to job opportunities and entry into the workforce, by partnering with Npower and other companies that search for diverse talent within the technology sector.
“By 2040, minorities will be the majority,” Steward said to NBC anchor Sheinelle Jones at the Npower gala in 2019. “If we’re not developing that talent, who’s going to develop that talent?”
With the development of different technologies, the students who won said they are optimistically cautious about how AI will change their path as future computer scientists. They said the forum provided an entryway into learning to use AI responsibly to help their communities.
“Right now, what we’re using [in our app] is just fancy auto complete,” Pattonville student Elisha Dukes said. “The risk is when people start abusing it. But people will always abuse things. We just need to take some precautions.”
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