Turkey’s Bilkent University Unveils AI-Powered Tech for Depression Detection

The project aims to diagnose depression levels by analyzing various data points, including facial expressions, tone of voice, speech patterns, and body language. The system operates in tandem with expert interviews, providing real-time data for a comprehensive analysis.

Turkey-based Bilkent University researchers have developed an AI-driven technology for detecting signs of depression and conducting behavioral analysis.

This development is a part of a research project that utilizes ML to analyze human behavior, extracting patterns from speech content, voice volume, tone, facial expressions, and posture.

Led by Hamdi Dibeklioğlu, assistant professor, Department of Computer Engineering, Bilkent University, the project aims to diagnose depression levels by analyzing various data points, including facial expressions, tone of voice, speech patterns, and body language. The system operates in tandem with expert interviews, providing real-time data for a comprehensive analysis.

"Typically, clinical psychologists and psychiatrists diagnose based on observations. Similarly, with AI, we aim to determine depression levels by analyzing various data – from facial expressions, tone of voice and speech patterns, to body language. While an expert conducts the interview, AI simultaneously processes and shares the data with the expert," explained Dibeklioğlu.

He further emphasized the adherence to stringent ethical standards throughout the research process, securing approvals from patients and hospitals at each stage.

Moreover, the research project prioritizes data privacy and consent, ensuring that the AI system operates only with explicit permission, safeguarding confidential information through rigorous protocols.

Dibeklioğlu also highlighted the potential significance of this detection, particularly in the context of treatments for children and infants, where direct questioning may be challenging.

Additionally, the team extends its AI applications to lie detection, assessing the extent of deception through various data points like sentences, vocal tone, and visual cues. The lie-detection system demonstrates notably high success rates and finds potential use in contexts such as student or employment interviews.

Founded in 1984 by İhsan Doğramacı, Bilkent University is the first private, nonprofit university in Turkey. The University aims to create a center of excellence in higher education and research.

In a similar development, Medanta launched AI-driven Catheter for advanced pulmonary embolism treatment. Medanta claims to be the first hospital in India to adopt this technology. As per the hospital, it has treated 25 cases of pulmonary embolism since July 2023. Utilizing AI, this technology minimizes blood loss, reducing complications and expediting patient recovery.