Source: The Guardian

This article from The Guardian reports on the UK government’s plan to trial artificial intelligence technology to verify the ages of asylum seekers claiming to be children. The AI system uses facial recognition to estimate age, aiming to address longstanding failures in the existing age verification process, which has negatively affected the mental health of young asylum seekers. Immigration Minister Angela Eagle describes AI as a potentially rapid, simple, and cost-effective method to support age assessments. The article also discusses concerns about accuracy, ethical implications, and the need for safeguards to prevent bias. The trial is part of broader efforts to integrate AI into public services and immigration controls.