HARRISBURG, PA — Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) alumnus Krunal Panchal ’20 continues to build a record of research and innovation in artificial intelligence (AI). Panchal, whose work HU featured in an alumni spotlight in December 2025, has shared two more contributions with the University community: a published study on identifying AI-generated news and a registered design for an AI-powered rehabilitation device.
Panchal earned his Master of Science in Information Systems Engineering and Management from HU and is now CEO and co-founder of Groovy Web, which helps companies pivot from traditional outsourcing and workflows to “AI-first orchestration.” He conducts research independently alongside his career.
“I continue to pursue independent research alongside my professional work in AI,” he said.
Separating Real News From AI Fabrication
Panchal’s article, “Detecting AI-Generated News: A Hybrid Classifier to Distinguish Real vs. LLM-Based Fabrication,” appeared in the International Journal of Computing and Engineering on Sept. 25, 2025. The study tackles a growing problem: large language models can now produce convincing news articles at scale, and those stories are increasingly repackaged as short-form videos on platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, and Snapchat.
“As convincing AI-generated information spreads through news, videos, and social media, understanding its origin becomes increasingly important,” Panchal said. “This research addresses that challenge and contributes to ongoing work on information credibility and responsible AI use.”
His detection framework combines three techniques. It looks for hidden statistical “watermark” signals, profiles word-level probabilities to spot patterns typical of machine-generated text, and measures how much the text varies. Panchal tested the model on a dataset he assembled from authentic articles by established news outlets, synthetic articles generated by models including GPT-3.5, GPT-4, and Claude, and transcripts of video news segments.
The hybrid classifier reached 89.3% overall accuracy, outperforming baseline methods that rely on a single measure. It also correctly flagged 62% of AI-generated video transcripts, a sign the approach could extend beyond written text. According to the study, the framework could give media companies and social platforms a practical tool for catching AI-generated misinformation before it goes viral.
Built on an HU Foundation
In an effort to apply AI to rehabilitation, Panchal also contributed to the “AI-Powered Hand Therapy & Grip Strength Device,” a design registered in India on Aug. 21, 2025, under Design No. 470546-001, Class 24-01. “This work reflects my continuing interest in applying technology to healthcare and rehabilitation,” Panchal said.
He credits HU with shaping how he approaches both research and real-world problem-solving. “The foundation I gained at HU continues to shape my approach to research and practical innovation,” he said.
Read Panchal’s full article in the International Journal of Computing and Engineering.
About Harrisburg University
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) is an independent, nonprofit university in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, offering degrees in advanced manufacturing, analytics, biotechnology, cybersecurity, nursing, and other STEM fields. Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, HU serves a diverse student body through bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs that link research with practical application. Learn more at HarrisburgU.edu or stay in the know by following HU on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.
Media Contact
Have questions about this story? Want to line up an interview? Contact Dan Wilhelm, director of communications, at DWilhelm@HarrisburgU.edu.
# # #
