Student Uses AI to Fight Financial Fraud

Tell us about your research.

I’m working on a project this summer with one of my entrepreneurship & innovation professors, Shomit Ghose. I’m working with graph neural networks, a type of artificial intelligence that processes images. Some people use image-generating AI to trick facial-recognition software and to commit financial fraud, so we want to learn how to use image-processing AI to prevent financial fraud. I can’t hope to solve such a large and complex problem in three months, but I can learn about the existing technology, see what research has been done in this field, identify gaps in our understanding, and propose next steps toward a solution.

How did you land this research position?

Professor Ghose customized it for me. He’s a partner at Clearvision Ventures, a venture capital firm here in Silicon Valley. Before I came to USF, I worked in Hong Kong for nine years. My background is in finance: investment banking, asset management, bond trading. Professor Ghose told me this research project is a good bridge between my industry knowledge and the AI technology in San Francisco.

When did you realize that finance was for you?

When I was 13, my father gave me my first computer. I didn’t know at the time that finance was my future, but I did know that my passion was computers.

Your advice to students just starting at USF?

Make the most of your time here. Learn as much as you can, both inside and outside the classroom. Try to identify a goal or area of interest early on. Having a clear passion gives you energy and motivation to push through challenges. You’ll be amazed at what you’re capable of when you’re truly engaged. Also, USF offers a wealth of resources — professors, career services, clubs, alumni — so don’t hesitate to reach out. If you’re not sure what your passion is yet, talk to a professor or mentor. Often, you already have some clues: It’s the thing you naturally enjoy, the task you can spend hours on without noticing the time, or the subject where you excel with ease compared to others.

Your favorite place in San Francisco?

I really like the Presidio. You can overlook the Golden Gate Bridge, and it’s very peaceful. It’s like a botanical garden.