George Burruss, PhD, professor and associate chair of the Department of Criminology, along with doctoral students Courtney Weber and Marlena Bolton, delivered two presentations at Cyber Florida's Sunshine Cyber Conference in Tampa on Feb. 25. Their presentations focused on developing AI tools for law enforcement and victims of cybercrime.
The first presentation, "Developing AI Tools for Law Enforcement and Victims of Cybercrime," explored the development of an AI chatbot designed to assist senior citizens in navigating cybercrime threats. The second presentation, "Reducing Cybersecurity Risk Through Strategic Messaging: Insights for Improved Cyberhygiene," examined research on the effectiveness of cybersecurity training videos.
Burruss, who founded the at USF, is developing SeniorSafe AI鈥攁n innovative, AI-powered chatbot designed to serve as a trusted companion for older adults in the fight against online fraud. This free, open-source tool will provide a safe, judgment-free space where victims can report incidents, receive real-time guidance, and learn how to stay safer online. It will also offer law enforcement and advocacy groups insights into emerging cybercrime tactics, helping them respond more quickly and effectively.