Detection system for AI misuse made by University of the West of Scotland receives £250,000 in funding

A Scottish system designed to identify the use of artificial intelligence in academic misuse has secured £250,000 in funding.

Cyberhare Solutions, a University of the West of Scotland (UWS) venture, aims to help institutions spot when students use generative AI tools to produce essays, assignments, or research submissions without proper disclosure.

It comes amid a reported rise in AI-related cheating by more than 60% a year, which is costing universities an average of £150,000 a year to investigate.

Dr Stephen Langston, founder and CEO of the venture, and senior lecturer at UWS, believes the technology could save institutions millions while “restoring trust” in assessment.

“Generative AI has completely changed the landscape for universities,” he said. “Older detection systems weren’t designed for this new reality and are leaving staff, students and institutions exposed.

“IntegraGuard is about fairness, transparency and trust. It’s about giving educators evidence they can stand by, while freeing up huge amounts of staff time. This grant from UKRI is a game-changer for us, allowing us to bring a credible solution to the market when it’s most needed.”

Built at UWS and now being trialled across several other UK universities, IntegraGuard works differently from traditional “black box” plagiarism detectors.

Instead of flagging suspicious text, it provides evidence-based insights – from fake references to mapping out AI use in essays – and manages the whole referral process.

The platform has been backed by a coalition of universities and education technology partners and is set for full commercial launch in 2026.

The funding will allow the system to be tested across multiple universities, with the possibility of wider adoption if trials prove successful.

Professor James Miller, principal and vice-chancellor of UWS, said: “Cyberhare Solutions is a brilliant example of the kind of innovation and impact that can grow out of our university.

“Academic integrity is a global challenge, and this work has the potential not only to protect standards in higher education, but to set a benchmark for how the sector responds to AI.

“We are proud to support Stephen and the Cyberhare team as they take this bold step forward.”