NEW FORENSIC AI TOOL TO DETERMINE BIOLOGICAL SEX FROM SKULL WITH 97 PCT ACCURACY

Thu 13 February 2025:

A team from Australia’s national science agency has developed an AI tool capable of rapidly and accurately identifying biological sex from human skulls.

Researchers from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) revealed the tool in a study published on Wednesday, saying that it could support investigators in criminal analysis and in the event of severe natural disasters.

The tool, which was developed in collaboration with the University of Western Australia (UWA), is five times faster than a human assessor at estimating biological sex from a human skull.

Image credits: CSIRO

The team found that it achieved an accuracy of 97 percent compared to 82 percent accuracy achieved by human assessors. The tool makes its estimations by analyzing a dataset of computed tomography (CT) scans of human skulls for sex-associated traits.

Dr Hollie Min, a CSIRO research scientist and joint first-author of the study, explained that the AI algorithm was trained using a dataset of 200 computerised tomography (CT) scans. These scans were analysed for sex-associated traits, with the AI’s findings compared against results from human assessors to evaluate performance. The results are promising, highlighting the potential of AI to enhance forensic investigations by improving both speed and accuracy.

__________________________________________________________________________

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAtNxX8fewmiFmN7N22

__________________________________________________________________________

“Our AI tool produces results approximately five times faster than human assessors,” said Dr Min. “This speed can be a game-changer for families who are waiting for crucial information about their loved ones. In situations involving natural disasters or criminal investigations, getting results faster can make all the difference.”

While the tool’s speed is a key advantage, its accuracy is equally impressive. With a 97% accuracy rate, the AI tool offers a reliable method for estimating biological sex, which is often a crucial step in the identification process during forensic investigations. Dr Min emphasised that the AI tool has the potential to reduce human bias in the analysis, providing more objective results.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

__________________________________________________________________________

FOLLOW INDEPENDENT PRESS:

WhatsApp CHANNEL
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAtNxX8fewmiFmN7N22