The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is using artificial intelligence (AI) facial recognition technology to monitor its online pesticide certification exam for commercial technicians and pesticide applicators and distributors. This allows candidates to take the exam immediately after registering online, without having to schedule a test appointment or travel to an in-person facility.
Test takers are notified of the use of this technology in the Pesticide Certification Exam Information and 10-minute video on the exam. Every exam taken is reviewed by a human proctor. The AI tool is used to flag any potential cheating based on eye and face movement, which is then reviewed by two humans – first the technology vendor and then DEC – to determine whether the score should be invalidated and provide notice to the test taker.
