Obama and Biden looking stressed during the debt ceiling standoff. Real-time facial recognition could be a revolutionary policing tool. It's also terrifying. The technology to identify strangers is an ongoing process. Woodcuttings and paper flyers, for instance, were eventually replaced by more accurate hand drawings, followed by photos and then video images.
Until the last few decades, linking names and faces was a sometimes lengthy process, ranging from looking through books of mug shots linked to police records, talking with sketch artists or simply people saying, "I know them.
This is their name, and here's how I know. While facial recognition software isn't new, the ease of use and wider access is, creating new opportunities — and potential issues. When used ethically and accurately, for instance, this technology can increase public safety. However, there are also serious risks, including the potential for data misuse, improved techniques for scammers and a loss of privacy. To find out what broader use of this technology could mean, 10 members of Forbes Technology Council weighed in on the societal impact of using facial recognition for law enforcement.
Here's what they said: 1. AI Will Need Checks And Balances In Place As the world becomes more connected and AI is becoming part of our daily life, we need to make sure that there are checks and balances in place to make sure that this technology is used for good.
People should stay very alert. But if it is used ethically, this software could improve security systems and even experiences like private club members. Using facial recognition allows rapid assessment of a person's criminal record, if any. Recognition software is a detriment when it makes mistakes. Human judgment with assistance from facial recognition is better. Also, humans' decision making can have biases, so training people to make better decisions is key.
