Teacher arrested after ‘using AI to impersonate principal’ making racist and antisemitic comments

A teacher who is believed to have used artificial intelligence (AI) to impersonate the principal of a school making racist and antisemitic remarks has been arrested.

Dazhon Darien – a PE teacher at Pikesville High School in Maryland – is accused of falsifying the voice of Eric Eiswert in January.

According to court documents, the voice which appears to be Eiswert can be heard saying that black students are unable to “test their way out of a paper bag”.

Police said the recording also discusses Jewish individuals and two Jewish teachers employed at the school who “should never have been hired”.

Darien is believed to have used cloning technology to create an audio clip of Eiswert’s voice.

Baltimore County Police Chief Robert McCullough said: “We now have conclusive evidence that the recording was not authentic.

“It’s been determined the recording was generated through the use of artificial intelligence technology.”

Eiswert previously had concerns about Darien’s behaviour, including allegations he had misused school funds.

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An investigation was underway into whether Darien paid $1,916 (£1,530) for an assistant girls’ football coach, who the head coach and players said never assisted the team.

It is believed that the alleged coach was Darien’s roommate.

Eiswert also argued with Darien when he reportedly sacked a coach without his approval.

It is thought Darien created the recording to take revenge.

The audio clip was sent by Darien to himself and two other teachers on January 16.

Eiswert has continually insisted that the recording is fake.

Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Myriam Rogers said: “As you could imagine, this has been a very difficult time for [the] Pikesville High School community, principal Eiswert and his family.”

Darien was charged with disrupting school activities, theft, retaliation against a witness and stalking after he was arrested on Thursday morning.