Shown from left are the brilliant minds behind VerifAI. Senior Aiden Donovan, Junior Kieran Besada, Freshman Guilherme Sales Moraes, Senior Raaiq Kabir and Senior Shaashwat Sahoo. Courtesy photo

NASHUA – Five students at Nashua High School South were recently named the New Hampshire winners of the 15th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition with their invention, VerifAI.

Team member Kieran Besada, a junior, said social media platforms, particularly TikTok, are rife with misinformation.

He said that according to Newsguard, 20 percent of the information in TikTok videos is inaccurate.

“That seemed like a prevalent problem,” said Besada.

In addition, of the 170 million TikTok users in the U.S., a third of them are 14 years old or younger.

To combat the problem of misinformation, Besada and his classmates utilized artificial intelligence and spent three weeks developing VerifAI.

Sophomore Ameya Kharade, a student mentor, said attention to detail was crucial during the development process.

“Minor inaccuracies would be a huge deal,” he said.

VerifAI uses Whisper API and a large language text system to detect misinformation.

Kharade said he is confident in the accuracy of the new web application.

“AI has a knowledgeable database,” he said, adding that VerifAI will provide users with a list of reputable sources.

Looking ahead, the group will find out on March 18 if they are among the 10 finalist groups in this year’s national competition.

“We came in not thinking we’d make it this far,” said Besada. “It’s a little terrifying.”

Having won the state competition, the school has already received a $12,000 technology prize package from Samsung.

Engineering Pathways Teacher Teresa Rossetti said she is thrilled that her students could possibly be national finalists.

“I am incredibly proud of my students for winning the state level of the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition. Their dedication, creativity and perseverance throughout this project have been inspiring. It is amazing to watch them collaborate, tackle a real-world challenge, and develop an innovative solution,” she said. “This achievement highlights their commitment to making a positive impact on the community and showcases the incredible potential of young minds when allowed to explore, experiment and lead. I’m excited to see where their passion for learning and problem-solving takes them next.”

Keith Richard, principal of Nashua South, said he “couldn’t be prouder” of Rossetti and her students.

“Teresa Rossetti, is a great educator who helped guide these students who found an interest and wanted to run with it,” he said. “With this competition, the team wanted to do something for the community at large. Trying to find ways to make social media platforms safer by removing misinformation.”

Board of Education President Jennifer Bishop said she is impressed with the students’ unlimited “energy and innovation.”

“These students tackled some of society’s most pressing challenges using hands-on learning showcasing the excellent education their teachers and families have provided over the years,” she said. “Our Nashua students are some of the brightest young adults in the state and it’s great they won this award.”