Hi ,
When I was in primary school, several of my classmates believed that whenever someone lied, they smiled. To them happy
truth-tellers were to be doubted, while straight-faced liars were to be unquestionably believed.
They never questioned the validity of the link they had drawn between facial expression and a person's intentions. And the fact is, there is "no robust link between people's inner emotions and intent and the expression on their face".
Here's the thing...
This same belief underpins many AI-driven biometric technologies.
And whereas the childish beliefs of my classmates never resulted in anything worse than the odd playground fight, the potential consequences of placing too much faith in immature technologies, such as biometrics, are far greater.
This is
why the UK's Information Commissioner's Office last week issued a warning of the risks of using such technologies.
This isn't to say that all AI is bad or shouldn't be trusted. But, it highlights the
importance of ensuring AI systems are fully understood and backed by scientific evidence before relying on them for critical decision making.
Otherwise, you may be better off delegating your decision making to children.
Talk again soon,
Dr Genevieve Hayes
