Oklahoma and Alabama now have AI-powered vending machines that don’t dispense snacks; they sell bullets. American Rounds says their facial-scanning tech can verify the age of a buyer. I’m sure it’ll be able to detect if someone’s wearing a mask or a ton of makeup, too, right?
How the Vatican is locking down the conclave
ChatGPT
You think keeping a secret in today’s world is tough? Try running one of the most important elections on the planet while dodging drones, AI surveillance and a smartphone in every pocket.
When Pope Francis passed away, the Vatican went into immediate lockdown mode to protect the conclave, the centuries-old process where cardinals vote to elect the next pope. Let me tell you, the security isn’t just tight. It’s basically a Tom Clancy novel on espresso.
Phones off, blockers on
Remember 2005, when the Vatican politely told cardinals, “No flip phones, please”? Adorable. Today, the Gendarmerie (the Vatican’s police force) runs an electronic warfare squad.
The moment the doors close, they flip on broad-spectrum signal jammers. Wi-Fi? Dead. Bluetooth? Buried. AirTags? Technological dust. Directional antennas flood every window and rooftop gap just in case.
Before the jammers fire, tech crews sweep rooms with nonlinear junction detectors (handheld wands that sniff out hidden circuits) and spectrum analyzers hunting rogue signals. They sweep again after the cardinals get in, and again once voting starts. Every person and everything gets inspected three times, from clothing to pens, crosses, rosaries and eyeglass frames.
Windows that stare back
Satellites can read a license plate from orbit, and AI lipreading can turn shaky long-lens video into a full transcript. The Vatican’s answer is dual-layer privacy film: a metallic, TEMPEST-rated laminate.
It blocks 99 percent of light and nearly all infrared. From outside, every window looks like a black mirror. Inside, cardinals see only a dull gray glow.
Thinking “just crack it open for fresh air”? Six Swiss Guards will somersault in like Cirque du Soleil. Magnetic sensors scream if a window budges more than a quarter inch. Cardinals aren’t even allowed to look outside the windows during the conclave.
Guarding the smallest country
Vatican City covers just 0.44 km² (roughly 0.17 sq mi). It’s about the size of a smaller 18-hole golf course, but its security grid rivals a major airport. Deep below St. Peter’s Square, a command center watches 650-plus 4K cameras, microwave fences and RF-triangulation arrays that flag any surprise transmitter.
Weekend project: 5 simple ways to make your home safer
When building a home security system, every little bit helps. You can make significant changes, like setting up outdoor cameras with facial recognition. This helps you spot familiar faces crossing your street every day.
Do you use AI at work? — May 31st, Hour 3
People are using ChatGPT at the office, but hiding it from the boss. Here’s why. Plus, a self-driving 18-wheeler hits the road, facial recognition at airports, and Gen Z’s new side hustle. Also, caller Andrew from Florida saved a girl caught in a rip current with a drone.
🤖 AI gone wrong: A Florida man was arrested after facial recognition tech said he matched a suspect trying to lure a 12-year-old at a restaurant. The system gave a 93% confidence score, two witnesses ID’d him from a photo lineup, and that was enough to put him in cuffs. But nope, it was a false positive. Case dropped.
8 inches
That’s how far off AI was when it flagged the wrong guy as a criminal. The innocent guy is taller, heavier and was miles away when the crime happened, but the NYPD’s facial recognition still went “Enhance!” and called it a match. Nothing like AI-powered “Where’s Waldo?” with people’s lives on the line.
🔐 Lock your PC: Want stronger security on Windows 11? A few clicks can make snooping way harder. Go to Settings > Accounts > Account settings > Sign-in options. From there, you can update a weak PIN or Password, or step it up with Facial recognition, Fingerprint sign-in or a physical Security key.
Amazon now selling its own low-cost face shields
© Евгений Вершинин | Dreamstime.com
Do you live in an area where masks are mandatory? If so, you might be wondering what all your options are before you venture outside your house and get back into the rhythm of shopping, dining and socializing.
Due to a shortage in medical-grade masks and respirators like the N95, most people are resorting to wearing cloth masks — including simple masks made from materials at home. Tap or click here to see how you can make your own mask.
🐾 Doggy surveillance default: Ring cameras are now default detectives, scanning outdoor feeds for missing dogs if a neighbor posts on the app. If your cam spots one, you’ll get a ping, but the opt-in switch flipped without asking. Amazon insists it’s only for pets, but facial recognition just launched, too. You can see where this is headed. Suddenly Fido’s not the only one being tracked. To turn it off: Open the Ring app > go to menu (☰) > Control Center > tap Search for Lost Pets > toggle off for every device. Good thing you have me on your side.
Twerked, tagged, tracked: Ohio police arrested two brain-trust women who twerked on a parked cop car. The dance party left dents and scratches, so authorities ran footage through Clearview AI facial recognition. Got ’em! Now, the women are facing charges.
Show me your face: Tinder’s rolling out a mandatory facial recognition login, creatively named “Face Check.” It’s trying to root out bots, catfishers and the psycho 53-year-old pretending to be a 27-year-old trust fund baby. Will it work? Nah.
👁️ New Orleans secret surveillance: For two years, police used facial recognition to track people in real time. They tapped into a private network of cameras to scan crowds for anyone on a wanted list and sent alerts to officers. The twist? It might not have been legal. The program’s now paused (paywall link).
🧟♂️ No face? No problem: AI’s tracking you anyway. A startup called Veritone made an AI that ditches facial recognition and still tracks you in video footage, just by how you walk and what you’re wearing. It’s already being used by cops and government agencies. The tech is legal, terrifying and possibly the start of your new fashion surveillance arc.
NYC wants subway cams to predict trouble: The MTA is piloting AI that watches for risky behavior before a crime happens. If someone’s acting off, it can alert police in real time so they can respond faster. FYI: The new system won’t rely on facial recognition. It’s strictly focused on behavior, not people. Well, at least for now.
🤖 Robocop is real: Thailand just showed off the Cyborg 1.0, and yes, it’s a bot dressed in full police gear. This thing has 360-degree cameras for eyes, facial recognition to spot suspects and the ability to detect weapons. The creepiest part? Its AI can analyze CCTV and drone footage from anywhere so it can keep tabs on everything. Coming soon near you, there’s a robot dude with WALL-E eyes and a badge.
iPad cracks the case: London police just solved a six-year-old case after finding an iPad in the bottom of the Thames River. It led the forensics team to Amazon and eBay purchases used in an attempted murder plot. Three clowns are behind bars, pointing fingers at who threw the iPad in the water thinking it would be gone for good. Meanwhile, a ton of permanent facial recognition cameras just went up in London.
Your every move tracked
Nearly 8 million flyers will face AI-powered facial recognition this season. From your walk to your ears, here’s how it identifies you — disguises won’t help!
December 23rd, 2023
Is Google’s AI an atheist? Here’s what it will and won’t tell you. Plus, when will you die? Researchers made a calculator that can tell you with 78% accuracy. Rite Aid gets a facial recognition ban and 36 million Xfinity customers hacked. Plus, five tech tips for your best road trip! That and much more, with all your calls and questions.
An answer to rampant crime?
Ready for facial recognition everywhere? Here’s why it’s the solution for some businesses, in just 60 seconds.