• The 9th FinVolution Global Data Science Competition targets deepfake speech detection, tackling the challenge of distinguishing between cloned and authentic voices in the LLM era.
• The contest is part of the IJCAI 2024 Competitions and Challenges track, encouraging global collaboration and innovation among AI enthusiasts.
• By integrating LLM-generated fake voices in the test dataset, the competition increases complexity and spurs innovation.

SHANGHAI, May 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — FinVolution, a leading fintech service provider, launches the 9^th FinVolution Global Data Science Competition today, with a focus on “Deepfake Speech Detection.”  The contest is part of the IJCAI (International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence) Competitions and Challenges track, a top international AI conference.

As voice synthesis technology continues to evolve, the line between cloned and genuine voices has become increasingly blurred in the era of large language models (LLMs), posing significant challenges to data security and asset protection.

The competition aims to inspire global AI enthusiasts and experts to innovate in combating voice cloning and deepfake scams. Contestants will utilize deep learning technologies to develop models and algorithms based on FinVolution’s test dataset. The competition will include LLM-generated fake voices to elevate complexity and spur innovation.

With a total prize pool of RMB 310,000, the contest will consist of preliminaries, semifinals, and a final, with an aim to authenticate true and false voices. Highest-ranked contestants will attend IJCAI 2024 in Jeju of South Korea, to receive the awards and engage with academic and industry experts. FinVolution proudly sponsors IJCAI 2024.

Tiezheng Li, CEO of FinVolution, stated, “Since its inception nine years ago, the FinVolution Global Data Science Competition has evolved into a widely recognized event in the field of data technology, facilitating technical exchange worldwide. Partnering with IJCAI this year, a top-tier international AI conference, demonstrates our commitment to advancing deep speech recognition technology.”

The Deepfake Challenge

During the preliminaries (May 10 to June 12), participants will design algorithms based on the white-box dataset supplied by FinVolution and submit scoring results to qualify for the semifinals. The dataset primarily comprises voice recordings totaling 20-40 hours.

At the semifinal stage (June 13 to June 28), contenders are expected to refine their algorithms based on the black-box dataset provided by the competition organizer, vying for a spot in the final. The dataset, composed mainly of private data, contains five to 10 hours of recordings.

Participants can register on the official website from May 9 to June 3, to download and view the datasets.

Upholding AI Ethics

Voice cloning has emerged as a major form of telecom fraud, as scammers exploit AI technology to make distinction between genuine and fake voices increasingly tricky.

The competition focuses on safeguarding user privacy and combating fraudulent activities by identifying cloned voices accurately.

Lei Chen, Vice President of FinVolution and Head of its Big Data and AI Division, said, “The applications of Large Language Models far exceed the corresponding detection technology, posing great challenges to information security. We hope to see AI deepfake voice detection technology keep pace with the developments of LLMs, thus safeguarding the data security of the public. With this concept in mind, the FinVolution Global Data Science Competition is not only a platform for technical competition but also an opportunity to explore how AI can better adhere to ethical principles and serve the public.” 

To date, the FinVolution Global Data Science Competition has drawn nearly 10,000 participants globally in total, becoming a widely recognized event in the field of digital financial technology.

Organized annually since 2016, the contest themes have spanned diverse domains, all rooted in real-world fintech business scenarios. These themes range from risk control algorithms, financial data applications, and product development to semantic similarity recognition, asset portfolio cash flow prediction, and credit schemes for small- and micro-sized enterprises.

About FinVolution Group

FinVolution Group is a leading fintech company that connects millions of consumers as well as micro- and small-sized enterprises with financial institutions.

Founded in 2007 and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2017, we have been at the forefront of the pan-Asian credit technology industry, pioneering innovative technologies in credit risk assessment, fraud detection, big data, and artificial intelligence. With a proven track record of robust growth in pan-Asian countries, we have established leading fintech platforms in China, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

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Mangopay has appointed Ariel Shoham, formerly a product lead at Meta, as its Vice President of Risk Product, marking a significant development in the company’s trajectory.

Ariel Shoham, VP of Risk Product at Mangopay. In his new role, Shoham will lead the strategic vision, strategy, and roadmap for identity and fraud protection, including cybersecurity solutions, at the European payment infrastructure provider.

Operating under the ownership of private equity investor Advent International since its acquisition for €75 million in 2022, Mangopay specializes in providing payment technology and identity verification services to marketplaces and platforms.

The company has been proactive in enhancing its security offerings, evident from its acquisitions of Nethone and WhenThen in 2023. Nethone brought marketplace-specific anti-fraud solutions, while WhenThen contributed payment acceptance technology to Mangopay’s portfolio.

Mangopay sees Shoham’s appointment as timely, aligning with its growth trajectory. It plans to expand its fraud prevention solutions and broaden the reach of its platforms for both B2C and B2B markets.

Shoham joins Mangopay from Meta, where he served as a product lead for over two years, playing a pivotal role in establishing the KYC team and financial compliance platform. His extensive technology experience also includes leadership roles at US-based fraud prevention firm Forter and co-founding Smart Sparrow, an interactive learning technology startup acquired by Pearson in 2020.

In his new capacity, Shoham aims to integrate payment facilitation and fraud prevention to enhance decision-making, safety, and user experience for Mangopay’s clients.

Source: fintechfutures.com

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