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?
Security upgrade: How to set up Google and Apple passkeys
I hate passwords. I know you do, too. Tech companies know we all do — and they’re finally doing something about it. Good timing, given how fast AI can crack passwords now, eh?
Passkeys use your device’s built-in security, like the fingerprint scanner on your phone or facial recognition on your laptop, to make online access tighter than the passwords you struggle to remember.
Let’s look at how passkeys work and how to start using them. Bye-bye, passwords. We never loved you. We’re not going to miss you, either.
What exactly is a passkey?
Think of it as a team-up. One part’s with the website or app you’re accessing, while the other’s safely on your device. To use the private passkey, you must prove you’re you through a PIN or biometrics.
It’s great that they’re easy to use, but it’s even better that hackers have difficulty defeating them.
“But Kim, what if I lose my phone?” Don’t panic. It’s like current password systems: You can have backups. And if all your devices go missing, you still have traditional passwords to fall back on.
Google Passkey basics
Have a Google account? You can try passkeys right now.
- Go to your Google account > Security, then Passkeys.
Some devices might already be set up with their own — you can turn those on or make new ones. Pro tip: Stick to using this on personal devices. Don’t set it up on your work computer or a shared device.
Set this up on your iPhone, too
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.
An answer to rampant crime?
Ready for facial recognition everywhere? Here’s why it’s the solution for some businesses, in just 60 seconds.
You heard it here first: In May 2023, I told you about TSA’s facial recognition program. Basically, you look into the camera and it takes your pic to verify you. Now, some senators are saying the TSA wants it mandatory in over 430 airports, but we don’t know where this data is going or how it’s protected. You can opt out: Step back from the camera, politely tell them you decline facial recognition and present your ID instead.
When you set up your iPhone, invisible dots create a detailed map of your face so you can open your phone just by looking at it. How many dots are used to map a face? Is it … A.) 7,500, B.) 18,000, C.) 30,000 or D.) 50,000?
704% more face-swap attacks
That’s when someone uses an AI tool to copy your face. These tools are free or cheap to access. Why? It’s an easy way to get past facial recognition checks on your devices.
Smile! You’re on cam at the airport
Be on the lookout for face-scanning tech next time you fly. Airports in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Detroit, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando and a few other cities are using facial recognition to speed up the security process. Worth it or invasive? Depends on who you ask.
This hidden iPhone setting puts you at risk
Your smartphone comes loaded with security settings, but they may not always be so apparent. We’ve compiled some essential ones. Tap or click here for new iPhone and Android security features to turn on.
Among the most common methods to unlock modern smartphones is facial recognition. It’s convenient, but it has drawbacks, not the least of which is training us to be OK with facial scans.
🪪 Beyond the airport: Travel verification company Clear is working on facial recognition for everything: Replacing your wallet, driver’s license, passwords and even your house keys with a selfie. They say it’ll help prevent fraud and be more convenient. What happens if hackers steal your face when it’s your universal ID?
👁️ Coming to a store near you: Facial recognition that spots suspicious friendliness. “Sweethearting” is when employees slip discounts or freebies to people they know. The system monitors how closely customers stand to staff and whether they always choose the same employee. If something seems off, store security gets alerted.
Snow White loves taking photos; someday, her prints will come: Disney is replacing its expensive focus groups with AI. Imagine facial analysis tech that watches your face when you exit a ride or see a character — every smile, smirk or exhale. Spoiler: Everyone paying to get in isn’t exactly happy about it.
🛒 You’re paying more: Grocery chain Kroger is working on electronic shelf labels that can adjust prices in real time based on factors like demand or the weather. It gets worse — they’re also planning to use facial-recognition cameras to serve shoppers more tailored ads. The real worry? Over time, Kroger could build customer profiles and figure out the maximum price you’d be willing to pay. Yikes.
You have no expectation of privacy in public: Students, parents and activists are pushing the U.S. Department of Education to ban facial recognition in public schools. The system lets anyone with access watch the kids, analyze their facial expressions and even monitor bathroom trips. I just hope the data is locked down.
✈️ You can opt out of airport facial recognition scans: Stand away from the camera, present your ID and say something like, “I opt out of biometrics. I want the standard verification process.” It could save you from a data breach or misidentification as a criminal suspect. Both have happened.
Well, this is a first: Facial recognition app Clearview AI, known for scooping up photos from the web, might owe you a piece of … itself? Facing a privacy class-action lawsuit, they’re strapped for cash and have agreed to a strange settlement: A 23% stake in the company, valued at $52 million, for those affected. Approval is pending. I’ll keep you posted on how to claim your share if it goes through.
Mission impossible: Scientists invented an ultra-thin battery for smart contact lenses that could support facial recognition and eye tracking one day. Here’s the kicker: You charge them with your tears! They’re powered by a saline solution instead of flammable lithium-ion batteries. Insanely cool.
This doesn’t make cents: Jeff Drobman got a slew of urgent-sounding Bank of America text messages. The Los Angeles man tried to call the bank but had no signal. He’d been SIM swapped, and hackers stole $21,000 from his BofA account. PSA: Choose facial recognition over 2FA in your banking app, and contact your carrier immediately if your signal suddenly drops.
Cue the sci-fi thriller music: Meet Ameca, the “world’s most advanced” humanoid robot, complete with camera eyes and facial recognition. It’s taking the internet by storm, recognizing objects in rooms and mimicking celebs like Morgan Freeman, Elon Musk and Donald Trump. The vid is totally worth a watch.
Will smart guns save lives?
Kai Kloepfer was in high school in 2012 when a man walked into a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado and killed 12 while injuring 70 more.
Now 26, Kloepfer is releasing a product he has been working on ever since: a smart gun. It started as a science fair project in response to the shooting and is now the centerpiece of Biofire, which has raised $30 million in funding. Here’s the story.