Using AI for age checks on kids seeking safety? We need to talk.

So, are we really saying a computer algorithm knows better than doctors when it comes to figuring out if a young person is a child or pretending to be? It feels like we’re outsourcing basic human judgment to a black box, and frankly, it’s worrying. We've got young people, often traumatised, arriving with nothing, and the first thing we do is question their age with a gadget.

Instead of relying on these AI systems, which I’m sure have their uses, why don't we invest more in proper, independent age assessment centres staffed by people who know what they’re doing? Think experienced social workers, psychologists, and medical professionals who can talk to these young people, understand their situations, and make a reasoned judgment. We could even set up a small, well-funded team here in Bradford, working with the council, to provide that support.