Facial recognition technology is becoming increasingly popular. In recent years, it has seen rising implementation across industries and applications. Big banks, tech platforms, credit card companies, and even sports leagues are now using it.
It’s also emerging in professional life. Many companies replaced fingerprint or badge readers with facial recognition systems during the pandemic. This has been of paramount importance for the safety and security of employees, especially in sparsely populated areas.
This article explores the different areas and activities where facial recognition is seeing growing importance.
Importance of Facial Recognition for People Search Sites
Some AI-powered people finders use facial recognition technology to match a search query with a person’s photo. This is particularly useful for users who have a photo of the person they are searching for but don’t have their name or other identifying information.
AI-powered search engines can recognize images and voice commands. With the help of image recognition, search engines can provide relevant results based on the content of an image. Someday, they will be so advanced that you can find out the name of a person in a photo without doing an additional search.
Using Facial Recognition for Targeted Marketing
US pharmacy franchise Walgreens announced a decision to leverage facial recognition to improve their marketing back in 2019. They did this through “smart coolers” – beverage coolers that featured facial scanners to establish customers’ age and gender. The fridges performed targeted advertising based on the data collected by the cameras.
Privacy violations had ramifications on Walgreens’ initiative. However, facial recognition for marketing can be valuable for businesses as long as data protection laws are complied with. According to studies, this technology will make significant progress across markets in the near future.
Many companies will follow in Walgreens’ footsteps in leveraging facial recognition tools to fine-tune their marketing strategies and get the most out of their advertising budgets.
Know Who Your Regulars are
Businesses can use facial recognition technology to identify users or customers who make purchases regularly. They can use this information to offer their regulars special deals and encourage loyalty. Businesses can analyze typical features their regulars share, demographic characteristics, age, etc., to target their advertising and marketing accordingly.
Launch New Products More Effectively
Companies can use behavior-related data collected via facial recognition when a new product is launched. They test the data with a selected group before rolling it out to a larger audience. The latest face recognition tools can identify and measure human emotions, assessing how people react to new products and services.
Use Facial Recognition to Verify Identity
AI-powered identity verification tools that enable more efficient control of access will become more advanced in the very near future. They are constantly being tweaked to become more actionable and prepared to deliver innovative real-world experiences.
Access control will become faster, more frictionless, and broader in scope. AI enables users to incorporate video authorization and multifactor authentication and create a more effective way to control access.
Facial recognition can Improve Convenience and Safety
Many companies are compelled to choose between safety and convenience. Moreover, there is often a gap between process implementation and executives’ intentions. A PwC survey found that most executives find the business considers employees’ needs when introducing new technology, but only about half of employees agree.
Magnetic badges, cards, and other physical authentication methods can be stolen, lost, or compromised. Facial recognition tools are expected to assuage these concerns, letting users access the respective physical spaces with as little friction as possible.
AI-powered Assistants will Become More Intuitive
Siri, Alexa, and other AI-powered personal assistants are quite competent at dictating messages, setting reminders, and other simple tasks. When paired with these assistants, facial recognition apps can become more responsive and personal, becoming a more responsive and realistic alternative to popular bots.
Facial Recognition can Improve Home Security
Home security systems and doorbell cameras are part and parcel of residential buildings, offering much-needed peace of mind. These systems can be enhanced by facial recognition, letting homeowners derive more functionality than before. You can integrate facial recognition apps with residence-focused ones to provide remote access, announce front door arrivals, and more.
Facial Recognition in Healthcare
In the healthcare industry, facial recognition technology can be used to verify the identity of patients, ensuring that they receive the correct treatment and medication. It can also track patient behavior and monitor their health, providing valuable insights for healthcare professionals.
Another potential benefit of facial recognition is its ability to enhance accessibility. For individuals with disabilities or mobility issues, facial recognition can provide an easier and more convenient way to access services and facilities. It can also improve public safety by identifying individuals who are not authorized to access certain areas or events.
Furthermore, facial recognition technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with technology. It can be used to unlock devices, make payments, and access secure data without passwords or PINs. This can improve the user experience and streamline processes, making our daily lives more convenient.
While concerns around privacy and ethics are valid, facial recognition technology can be used responsibly and with transparency. It is important to ensure that it is used to benefit society as a whole and that the potential risks are carefully considered and addressed.
Conclusion
Facial recognition technology has already proven valuable in many industries, including security, retail, and healthcare. With further advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning, it has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with technology, streamline processes, and improve our daily lives. However, it is important to consider the ethical implications of facial recognition and ensure that it is used responsibly and with transparency. As we continue to embrace new technologies, it is essential to balance the benefits with the potential risks and ensure that they are used to benefit society.
