We live in a time where financial systems have been overtaken by technology.
Don't have cash? No problem - you can already pay wirelessly, via an app, a finger print, or more.
The fintech world is flourishing and new innovations and payment methods are being released all the time.
Of course, cryptocurrencies are a huge part of this revolution as well!
So you have paid wirelessly, maybe even with your fingerprint - But have you ever paid with your face?!
A Chinese startup has come up with a solution to integrate facial recognition into the payment process.
"The Face++" is a beijing-based startup, backed by a subsidiary of Alibaba - Alipay and the commercial bank Ant Financial.
The technology is implemented in Alipay's "Smile to pay" option, and 120 million Chinese people already use facial recognition to confirm their payments.
There are many different uses for facial recognition technology: identification, payments, granting access and even tracking down criminals.
How does it work?
First, the user needs to upload a picture of himself to the system. The software then analyzes the facial biometric data, and up to 83 different key points are being tracked on the face.
That way, a person's face can be identified with an incredible 99% accuracy!
The system uses artificial intelligence and deep learning techniques.
These are especially effective for image recognition because it focuses on the specific facial features that will identify a person most reliably.
Other features of the App
Face++ can not only recognize and identify faces - there are a lot more features.
It can analyze someone's age, race or gender, it can compare faces and even recognize emotional expressions.
And the current most widespread usage for Face++ is actually facial recognition used to grant access to private property.
Many Chinese companies are using this technique to secure entrance to their offices.
Face++ can even monitor people's movements inside a room.
Facial recognition is already hugely popular in China - not due to security, but actually because of the convenience.
Offices and apartments can use the technology to grant access, and retail stores are hoping to improve the customer experience with such a quick and easy payment method.
“The face recognition market is huge. In China security is very important, and we also have lots of people. Lots of companies are working on it.”
-Shiliang Zhang, Peking University
Another company that's working on similar technologies is Baidu - China's most popular search engine.
Similar to Google, the company is not just a search engine but rather works on many different future-oriented projects, facial recognition being one of them.
They have proven that their software could recognize faces even better than a human being! Earlier this year, the system was tested in a TV show.
When facing off against people who were remarkably good at identifying adults from their baby photos, the system beat the humans.
Baidu is currently working on a system to let people replace buying tickets with facial recognition.
They are cooperating with the government of Wuzhen, a popular tourist destination, and aim to replace tickets.
The goal would be to grant access to different attractions solely with facial recognition.
Baidu stated that it could compare tens of thousands of faces to a database, and analyze them with 99% accuracy.
What's your opinion about facial recognition? Would you choose this technology over other methods of payment?
© Sirwinchester
What about the privacy? Those photo recognition files will be stored somewhere and any agency with some money and governmental approval could access it and these pics can be used in various scam's on other photo recognition stores, websites et cetera. It's a highly risky project. Even the fingerprint paying tech can be misuded in making false passports etc. Even so, this tech will be live in some 20-40 years.
Good point. The privacy regulations in China aren't very strict, but we'll see how things will go if this technology reaches Europe or the US.
The only reason why this is not yet mainstreem is that they don't yet have the amount of needed certified records depositories in place.
That would be pretty cool, its funny how many old scifi movies predicted this tech so many years ago lol
I don't think it will work, as some facial features keeps on changing with age, and more issues with ladies who apply makeup .. just imagine your transaction is rejected because you have applied too much of makeup.
That's true, but I think the technology is so advanced that it can analyze beyond wrinkles and makeup. I'm not entirely sure though, I'd love to test it myself or see a live demo.
When the technology is ripe for deployment globally, it will likely update your face every time you are scanned and collate it with the last 1000 scans of your face to better guarantee accuracy. Identical twins should be a fun one too, but I am sure that will be discernible as well.
Makes a lot of sense. I could see this becoming a big thing. Sorta like unlocking your phone with your thumb print. Next up: Paying for coffee with your face... I hope my face is worth a lot :)
Exactly, paying with the face is even more convenient than fingerprint!
weird but def possible
Utilizing biometrics as an authentication token is a big mistake.
You lose control over your auth token, you are essentially screwed. If someone manages to snag the data that defines your particular fingerprint, face, voiceprint, etc...
Then you can't use that again for authentication, ever.
Its out of your control, and since you can't change your fingerprints, voice, face very easily -- it locks you out of using those methods pretty quickly.
I don't support tech that makes this mistake of using such biometric inputs. And you shouldn't either.
Well put. The risks outweigh the benefits. Private keys exist for a reason without the need for personal data.
Very dangerous tech..particularly in the hands of people who dislike freedom.
Hense..."Chinese startup"
I hope It makes the search engine more stronger than now.
this is just bad technology! #freedomkiller
Upvoted, soon this will be everywhere I am sure
Call me old, but this is too big brother for me
Nice post, but I wouldn't be happy if that happens...
Yeah.... i would rather not have my face on a system digitized so that people know where i am and what im buying at all times, no thank you
This is better than 2FA verification for sure :)
No!! I would never want this. People who accept this will be implanted with a microchip and then even more easy to control. This is way too creepy.
Woww very interesting! cool post
cant wait to ditch my pw... i mean my 1347 passwords..... that i all remember and never use and that all super secure......
I guess this is only the next logical step.
So many people are already earning money with their faces.
They should probably also develop the same system for tits and asses I guess.
Pretty amazing tech.
I think it is great and frightening at the same time.
Will we be face tracked every where soon ?
Can all these camera's on the street be used to empty my wallet ?
Like I say, scary and amazing.
you are great on post. now i followed you
We might be headed that direction, but I just don't like it personally. Maybe I'm old school, but I think technology needs to slow down lol
That's like mother nature telling a Kenyan to slow down. Not gonna happen :p
I truely don't like this idea....it can't even work in Nigeria
I can see how this will lead to a plethora of plastic surgery demands. Resteeming.
@sirwinchester, I guess it's already here. Whenever I get to the log-in screen on my desktop computer, Windoze asks me if I'd like to "skip the login" and use my face instead of typing.
The skeptical side of me wants to go out and buy stock in a company that manufactures ski masks...
Joking aside, this is the future, and it's already here. Millions of surveillance cameras already take pictures of us every day... and they can use facial recognition software to track people so legitimizing the technology by making it part of banking and personal security is just the next logical step in the progression...
... call me paranoid, but I have a bit of an issue with it all. Not the tech, but human nature. As we move towards a place where we "wear our method of payment on the outside" the scam/fraudulent use industry is going to ramp up to a whole new level. My face will be RIGHT THERE for "anyone" to scan... and genius hackers by the thousands will go to work on creating ways to transfer my face onto their face to do anything from gain illicit access to places and files, and drain bank accounts and more. So an "anti fraud" industry will thrive... but who really gains from all this, in the long run...
Thought provoking article... thanks!
Yes I understand your points, thanks for your comment! There are definitely a lot of issues to consider with this technology and a lot of improvements to be made!
Awesome technology! China is very efficient when it comes on inventing things. They have robots now... right? Thank you for sharing! 😉 upvoted and resteemed 😊
Rumors say the iPhone 8 may replace the fingerprint button with face recognition. That will be interesting:
https://www.macrumors.com/2017/02/16/iphone-3d-laser-scanner-facial-recognition/
Me: -prays for no doppelganger-
Badly need something like this to replace passwords.
Amazon have a released a new shop where you walk in by swiping your card, then literally taking whatever you want and walking straight out and it automatically charges you. Quite cool actually. Nice article :)
Do you see this as more secure than fingerprint verification? I believe that both can be faked, although not sure wich one is harder to fake. Fingerprints don't change with age though do they?
I also heard that apple are putting IRIS unlock features in their newest phones.
China has gotten worse than Orwell's darkest fantasies in his book 1984.
These new technologies just amazes me a lot.
Great article
iphone 8 will likely have face recognition to unlock / instead of fingerprint unlock.
This is like a blend of Minority Report and 1984 just waiting to happen. Brave New World is almost upon as well. I love the idea of all these technologies being used to help us, but it's hard not to see the potential for abuse.
Wow, just another way that China is much more technologically advanced than North America. But I think this is moving us closer to a "chipped" society, where all data about each individual is digitally recorded, and can therefore be used to monitor and control populations. Great article, I'm glad I found out about this :)
With all of the different ways "Big Brother" keeps tabs of everyone (with or without a cell phone) it should be no delay in the establishment of this tool in the U.S.
reads article
transforms face to look like a Kardashian
buys anything
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This world just keeps on getting creepier and creepier!
As if this would solve the security problems, lol.
Didn't they try to sell us this garbage with the thumb print thing!
New angle to make money.
Nothing new under the sun!
You know how people steal other people's fingerprints to unlock devices? What a terrifying world when we start doing that with faces...
Simply amazing how technology is ever evolving like that! Just rewind 20 years back and you will feel like living in the stone age! Impressive @sirwinchester !
This is not good .... I need my PRIVACY
I have been surprised the truth is that I am not very given to the technology and in my country we are very backward in that sense, but I imagine that until they can see the criminal record of the people, thanks today I learned something new!
Facial recognition is garbage. Aside from 8 people on Earth minimum looking exactly like you, it changes with time. You also don't want AI to GUESS what your appearance will be. Finger prints remains the only choice for biometrics, and even that can be hacked digitally. This only benefits lazy governments tracking their citizens.
good post