The invention of Dynamite by Alfred Nobel was a game-changer for the mining and construction businesses. However, manufacturing and supply of dynamite started to be more tightly controlled as nefarious uses emerged. Facial recognition technology has had a similar positive start. Will current murmurs of discontent rapidly reach a crescendo and stifle this innovation? It depends!
The Human Face
The Human face has 43 muscles, major and minor, capable of showing more than 10000 expressions.
Macro-expressions may last a few seconds, are obvious in human interactions and show the seven universal emotions- Anger, Contempt, Disgust, Fear, Happiness, Sadness, and Surprise.
Micro-expressions are fleeting, lasting a fraction of a second, and occur when a person, consciously or otherwise, tries to conceal a feeling. Research and training have significantly evolved from the time micro-expressions were scientifically reported.
Subtle expressions show varying intensity of emotions – when a person starts to feel an emotion or trying to stifle the emotion. Research on Subtle expressions has been extensive and has crossed over from Psychology to Computational Systems of Artificial Intelligence.
AI and the Human Face
Latest advances in camera technology can capture up to 1000 fps and video-conferencing systems deliver 5K resolutions through high-speed networks. All macro, micro, and subtle expressions can be captured and transmitted at speed across networks. Existing Artificial Intelligence engines can analyse and dissect these frames in real-time.
Let us look at this technology in use in the real world.
AI at the Movies
The Walt Disney Company pioneered the usage of AI to determine audience reactions to their films. The researchers claimed that, using infrared cameras in the cinema hall, they could predict the facial landmarks of a person for the remainder of a movie based on the first ten minutes of observing her.
As we consume content, especially on mobile devices equipped with multiple cameras, we could dynamically alter the course of a movie, the scenes, and the ending based on continuous involuntary feedback that we provide to the system. This could be the era of designer branded mood changing movies!
Would we like this innovation? Sure!
AI at the Work Place
More companies are starting to use AI as an integral part of their hiring process. Continuous usage is helping iron out the initial glitches including biases in algorithms and data-sets.
Imagine this technology at work in a Video conference of a “Manager-Employee” performance appraisal conversation or a “Project Review meeting”. Every interaction could be analysed by each participant in real-time and we could end-up worrying about “He feels; She fakes; He feigns” rather than outcomes.
Would we like this innovation? Unlikely!
AI in the Wide Open World
Facial Recognition Technology has a myriad of everyday uses -Do a scientific analysis of skin condition and suggest a virtual makeover; Do KYC for every financial transaction. Indeed, there are companies that allow you to do these using facial recognition APIs and continuously curated data.
News of the usage of the technology to monitor people has caused predictable outrage. However, the same technology is likely to be appreciated when used to capture pick-pockets in heavy tourist destinations.
Would we like this innovation? Not Sure!
Summary
Technology Corrupts. Absolute Technology corrupts absolutely! Some of the privacy related travails of the social media companies in 2018 showed this vividly. Policy makers and service providers would be well advised to consider sensible frame-works to use facial recognition technology in a responsible manner.
Picture Credits : https://free-images.com/