Can you tell if someone is lying? While we may not be able to, Fletcher Heisler’s AI might. His AI uses facial recognition to analyse the faces in a given video feed and determine if they’re exhibiting signs commonly associated with lying. Some of the metrics it analyses are gaze direction, blink rate, and pulse rate. To detect pulse rate, it watches people’s cheeks for subtle colour changes as blood passes through them. Heisler maintains that this is for entertainment purposes only, and not a foolproof way to detect untruths. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
