Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have become so entrenched in the market over the past few years that it is hard to imagine the present or future without them. They are transforming and re-shaping education, industry, business, and even daily life. In this technological revolution, scientists from Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH) are playing a crucial role in developing advanced AI tools for the next generation of specialists.
 

Professor Dr. Arturas Serackis, head of the Department of electronic systems at the VILNIUS TECH Faculty of electronics, along with his team are developing an innovative AI solution enabling  instant identification of image forgeries, particularly those generated by AI.

Currently, for the prototype to detect forgeries, longer video clips featuring human head and facial muscle movements are needed. This somewhat limits the tool's application and requires compromises, but the professor emphasises that creating tools to detect video forgeries is an ongoing, challenging process that demands most up-to-date, intelligent solutions.

“What worked six months ago no longer works today, so we are constantly improving our prototype. We use the latest tools for creating video forgeries to try and ‘trick’ it, then find new ways to avoid being deceived. We monitor how other researchers detect video forgeries and try to enhance our prototype with similar solutions,” shared Prof. Dr. Arturas Serackis.

Soon, he and the team of other VILNIUS TECH scientists and students will begin a research project aimed at creating an AI solution for generating 3D models of eyeglass frames. “We already have the initial concept, but there are still many challenges. Once we overcome them, we’ll be able to present a solution with no analogues in the world,” said Prof. Dr. Serackis.
 

AI technologies developed by VILNIUS TECH scientists have also been applied in business. Dr. Pavel Stefanovic, an associate professor at the Faculty of fundamental sciences (FMF), and Professor Dr. Simona Ramanauskaite have created an AI model that analyses Instagram users' profile pictures and recommends suitable travel destinations, with more than 95% of users agreeing with the suggestions.

Another business-adopted solution is the modernisation of financial accounting systems using AI features. FMF scientists, in collaboration with accounting system developers, implemented several AI functions in one system – including automatic client efficiency evaluation, data forecasting, and others.

“We also developed a tool that can determine whether students wrote answers to questions themselves, generated them using ChatGPT, or paraphrased AI-generated responses. Our solutions can detect this with almost 90% accuracy,” shared Prof. Dr. Simona Ramanauskaite.
 

VILNIUS TECH currently offers two bachelor's and three master's degree programs related to AI. According to Prof. Dr. Serackis, these programs are more focused on applied AI rather than fundamental research on AI models, but students are also provided a broader perspective with necessary mathematical and computer science foundations.

“This is important because AI is applied in a wide range of fields – energy, manufacturing, the service sector, and cybersecurity,” said Prof. Dr. Serackis. He adds that students in these programs gain not only computer science but also electronic engineering knowledge, expanding their career opportunities. “There are many strong companies in Lithuania that not only produce but also create new, globally competitive electronic devices.”

VILNIUS TECH scientists also share their knowledge beyond the university, educating the public about AI’s capabilities. Associate Prof. Dr. Pavel Stefanovic and Prof. Dr. Simona Ramanauskaite conduct training sessions for people of all ages – teachers, students, company representatives, and seniors – where they introduce the history, principles, and application possibilities of AI.

“I explain AI threats to students and emphasise that they shouldn’t blindly trust AI-generated content, as they can easily be misled. Adults can cope with this, but students often take AI content as pure truth,” warns Dr. Pavel Stefanovic.

“Understanding AI principles is essential for everyone. Throughout technological change, people have always feared the future – there was a time when they were even afraid of steam engines. Educational institutions play a crucial role in teaching the public, giving them the knowledge and skills needed to adapt to new technologies,” said Prof. Dr. Simona Ramanauskaite.

She notes that people react to AI in different ways – some complain that AI cannot perform tasks with 100% accuracy, while others feel safer and prouder, knowing that they can do more than current AI solutions.