#Facial Expression Recognition Software

[carriesthewind]

Yeah so anyway, I'm making my response to this fucking garbage its own separate post in case people want to reblog it without having to reblog a scare-mongering lie.

This video pisses me the fuck off whenever I see it, and today I'm not in the mood to just scroll past.

Wow! Am I being lead to panic by scaremongering algorithm fodder completely unsupported by real evidence?! test:

The reason you think something exists is just what you're being told by a nefarious *them*, there is actually a conspiracy behind it!

I, an ordinary person with no expertise who critically examines the world around me, have uncovered this conspiracy.

"That's what they're telling you." (put the emphasis wherever appropriate for the conspiracy of your choice - in this case, it's on *telling*)

This new tech thing is actually a bad idea and the old school method was better - which clearly proves there must be a secret conspiracy, because why allow the possibility of incompetence and investor tech-hype when you can instead assume a highly-competent evil conspiracy?

I will now tell you my conspiracy theory while scrolling rapidly through a document without pausing or allowing you to actually read any of it. This allows me to look like I have proven my claims while doing nothing of the sort. Because do you really think someone could do that? Quickly flash a document on screen and just lie about what it says?

But Owl! This is real! A user upthread found the patent and it *does* prove it!

Yeah. I read the linked patent. Did you?

Let's quote the "real purpose" hidden in the patent, as claimed out in the video:

"The real purpose of these screens is to use the little camera at the top right here to scan your face and use AI facial expression analysis to judge whether or not you like the packaging designs of the product you're looking for."

This is complete made up horseshit.

First, let's look where the reblogger directs us, to column #4 on page 17:

"Preferably, each retail product container further comprises customer-detecting hardware, such as one or more proximity sensors (such as heat maps) , cameras, facial sensors or scanners, and eye-sensors (i.e., iris-tracking sensors). Assuming cameras are employed, preferably cameras are mounted on doors of the retail product containers. Preferably, the cameras have a depth of field of view of twenty feet or more, and have a range of field of view of 170 degrees with preferably 150 degree of facial recognition ability. Preferably, software is employed in association with the cameras to monitor shopper interactions, serve up relevant advertisement content on the displays, and track advertisement engagement in - store." (emphasis added and references to figures removed for readability)

That is the extent of the "nonconsensual data collection."

Now, to be fair, there is some stuff on page 18 and 19 which kinda-sorta-maybe has at least some relation to the claim in the video:

"Preferably, the controller/data collector is configured such that as a shopper stands or lingers in front of a given retail product container, the display associated with the retail product container changes yet again. At this point, preferably the controller/data collector has been able to use the customer-detecting hardware to effectively learn more about that particular customer, such as gender, age, mood, etc. The controller / data collector is configured to take what has been detected about the customer to determine which advertisement and other information to present to that particular customer on the display associated with the retail product container in front of which the customer is standing. By tracking shopper data in parallel with which advertising content is being served on all displays within the viewing range of the shopper, the retailer and the brands are better served, providing new analytics. As such, the system provides advertising, influence opportunities at the moment of purchasing decision, optimizing marketing spend and generating new revenue streams....

"Additionally, preferably all inputs collected by the IOT devices will be analyzed locally as well as remotely (via cloud) to provide the feedback inputs for the system to push more relevant/targeted content, tailored for the consumer. The analytics are preferably conducted anonymously, images captured by cameras are preferably processed to collect statistics on consumer demographic characteristics: (such as age and gender). This data is preferably subsequently analyzed for additional statistics for the retailers that are valuable for in-store merchandise layout design and smart merchandizing, including the ability to track the shoppers “traffic” areas, known as “heat maps”, areas were [sic] customers would concentrate more and spend more time exploring, etc." (emphasis added and references to figures removed for readability) (And note the repeated emphasis on preferably - they don't have a patent to do any of this.)

Which, like, not great! I fucking hate the idea of shit like this! But there is literally nothing here about monitoring your expressions to sell the data about how you react to packaging!

This isn't a nefarious plan hidden in the patent. It's tech bros adding on totally sick ideas about how they can sell this shit to walgreens. (Because to be clear, I'm sure walgreens's corporate office would love to collect and sell this kind of information. But just because they would, doesn't mean they can or are. And this patent sure as hell doesn't prove it.)

Because let me be clear: the image capture of consumers is so irrelevant to the product that it literally isn't even included in the claims section of the patent.

Because the patent is quite explicit and detailed about the idea they are selling big retails stores on - this is a better, new, innovative, tech-driven way to "provide an innovative advertising solution"! (The words "AI," "intelligent," and "machine learning" are deployed liberally, but in the same way that "blockchain" was a few years ago. It's advertising tech hype.)

I want to make it clear - the OP in the video is straight up lying to you. Whether for fun or profit or just attention, I don't know and I don't care. If you shared this, you probably should have know better, but everyone makes mistakes. OP, on the other hand, is just a fucking liar.

But Owl! What about "the senators looking into this"?

I don't know how to tell you this, but thing linked about is a press release by a politician's office. That doesn't mean it's not true, but it's not evidence on it's own. Like, the letter linked in the link included links to sources, but is not itself evidence (ooh, layers of links to actually get to a source, my favorite)(actually my computer wouldn't even goddam open the links to the source, I had to independently search for it).

Anyway, the letter to Kroger linked in the press release by the senators contains a single sentence and a single link relevant to the claim here (linked for your convenience because it sure as hell wasn't for mine). Unfortunately, this article is itself based on a goddam press release (That isn't linked! Again, you're welcome.)

And when we finally get to the underlying fucking source. "In addition to transforming the customer experience and enhancing productivity for associates, the EDGE Shelf will enable Kroger to generate new revenue by selling digital advertising space to consumer packaged goods (CPGs) brands. Using video analytics, personalized offers and advertisements can be presented based on customer demographics." So it's purporting to something *kind of* like the claim in the video, but an entirely different format completely unrelated to the thing the video is scaremongering about.

Now Kroger did actually start using the advertising screens in 2023. And you can believe what you want about the data privacy claims and the claims about not using video, just sensors (which remember is entirely consistent with the patent). But remember: being skeptical of a company's claims is fine and good! It does not mean you have proven they are lying, and it especially does not prove you have claimed they are doing something extremely specific! And most of the articles, and the letter from the senators, are (much more reasonably) concerned about so-called "dynamic" or surge pricing. (Which is not related to the screens.)

Like goddamn. Aren't there enough real problems with surveillance and price-gorging to be concerned about without having to make up fake ones? Hell, why can't we at least be concerned with the real problems with those dumb screens, which is that the a) make shopping harder and b) catch fire?

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Arno Rosenfeld at The Forward:

The Heritage Foundation plans to “identify and target” volunteer editors on Wikipedia who it says are “abusing their position” by publishing content the group believes to be antisemitic, according to documents obtained by the Forward. Employees of Heritage, the conservative think tank that produced the Project 2025 policy blueprint for the second Trump administration, said they plan to use facial recognition software and a database of hacked usernames and passwords in order to identify contributors to the online encyclopedia, who mostly work under pseudonyms. It’s not clear exactly what kind of antisemitism the Wikipedia effort, which has not been previously reported, is intended to address. But in recent months some Jewish groups have complained about a series of changes on the website relating to Israel, the war in Gaza and its repercussions. In June, a panel of Wikipedia editors declared the Anti-Defamation League a “generally unreliable” source of information about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, limiting when the organization can be cited in Wikipedia articles. And there was an outcry this fall among some Jewish scholars and pro-Israel activists over edits to Wikipedia’s entry for Zionism to add references to “colonization.” [...] The Heritage Foundation sent the pitch deck outlining the Wikipedia initiative to Jewish foundations and other prospective supporters of Project Esther, its roadmap for fighting antisemitism and anti-Zionism. The slideshow says the group’s  “targeting methodologies” would include creating fake Wikipedia user accounts to try to trick editors into identifying themselves by sharing personal information or clicking on malicious tracking links that can identify people who click on them. It is unclear whether this has begun.

[...] Allegations of bias Wikipedia has long faced claims from conservatives that it has a liberal bias. Chaya Raichik, the Orthodox former real estate broker behind “Libs of TikTok,” has assailed Wikimedia’s spending on diversity programming, for example. And a June study from the right-leaning Manhattan Institute found a “mild to moderate tendency” for Wikipedia to more negatively describe some conservative public figures. Several prominent Jewish groups have also expressed concern that Wikipedia is tilted against Israel. A World Jewish Congress has released a report in March said the site’s articles about the Israel-Hamas war were biased in “terminology, framing and lack of context, one-sided sources and critical omissions,” while Aish.com, an Orthodox news website, said in November that it had been “hijacked by digital jihadists.” In May, the Los Angeles Jewish Journal ran a cover story titled “Wokepedia?” that described “seven tactics Wikipedia editors used to spread anti-Israel bias.” The article said that the term “anti-imperialism” had been added to the Hamas page as one of the Palestinian terror group’s ideologies, and the term “antisemitism” removed. Neither term is currently on the Hamas page; editors frequently discuss and change the content of controversial articles.

Radical right-wing organization The Heritage Foundation’s Project Esther is planning to identify and target Wikipedia editors as part of its project to combat antisemitism and anti-Zionism. In reality, such a campaign would serve to intimidate Wikipedia for its alleged pro-Palestinian bias.

[mariacallous]

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Police issued an order on Tuesday denying a request to hold an LGBTQ+ event later in central Budapest, a consequence of recent steps by the right-wing populist government aimed at banning the popular Budapest Pride march.

The police’s decision to prohibit the planned event later this month came after Hungary’s parliament passed legislation in March, and a constitutional amendment the following month, that allowed the government to ban public events by LGBTQ+ communities — moves that legal scholars and critics have called another step toward authoritarianism by the autocratic government.

In its justification for prohibiting the Budapest event, which organizers requested to take place on June 28, the city’s police argued that “it cannot be ruled out, or is even inevitable, that a person under the age of 18 will be able to engage in legally prohibited conduct” if attending the proposed march.

The police also contended that the march could result in “passive victims,” who, “because of the assembly’s march-like nature, did not wish to attend the assembly but, because of its public nature, nevertheless become a bystander.”

In a statement, the organizers called the police decision “a textbook example of tyranny.”

The ban on LGBTQ+ events — which the government says ensures children’s rights to moral, physical and spiritual development — allows for fines on people organizing or taking part in Pride events, and the use of facial recognition software to identify them.

Hungary’s contentious “child protection” legislation prohibits the “depiction or promotion” of homosexuality to minors aged under 18.

Hungarian officials have given contradictory statements as to whether or not the new policies amount to a full ban on Budapest Pride. In a speech to supporters in February, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán advised organizers “not to bother organizing this year’s parade,” calling it “wasted money and time.”

The Budapest Police attached photographs and videos to its statement depicting scenes from previous Budapest Pride events — ostensibly evidence to corroborate its view that the march was likely to violate the new laws banning public displays of homosexuality.

France, Germany and Spain were among at least 20 European Union nations who last month called on Hungary to revise its legislation banning LGBTQ+ events, expressing concern that it runs contrary to the fundamental values of human dignity, freedom, equality and respect for human rights enshrined in EU treaties.

Organizers of Budapest Pride, which draws tens of thousands annually and is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, have vowed that the event will go on as planned despite the threat of legal sanctions.

[polizwrites]

Picking Up the Pieces

This is a fill for my final  @sweetspicybingo  Beginnings Bingo fill:   C3 - First Victim and an older  @flashfictionfridayofficial   prompt [FFF#293 - Unbridled Rage].

Fandom:  MCU/Marvel Pairing:  Tony Stark  & Bruce Banner Rating: General Tags:  Post Captain America: Winter Soldier, Post Iron Man 3, Science Bros,  Canon Convergence,  Summary:  As Bruce and Tony pore through the SHIELDra files, they talk about the Winter Soldier and what should happen next.   Word Count: 425 words

“I can’t help but think,” Bruce commented, as the two of them took a break from examining the technical schematics JARVIS had pulled out of the massive SHIELDra data dump,  “that much like the first country the Nazis conquered was Germany,  that the first victim of the Winter Soldier was Sergeant Barnes.”

After hearing from Steve and Natasha what had really gone down in  Washington DC - including the revelations provided by cyber-Zola - Tony had instructed his AI to  comb through the files for anything relating to his parents as well as the Winter Soldier.   The last thing he’d expected was for the requests to overlap.    

The files detailing the Soldier’s mission had been bad enough, but the security video of the brutal attack had been a shock to Tony’s system that he was still recovering from.     

 “I don’t care,” Tony replied tightly, “He killed my mom.”   He’d recovered - more or less - from the unbridled rage he’d felt immediately after viewing the video. If Barnes had been standing in front of him at that moment, well - it wouldn’t have been pretty.  

“Hydra killed your mother.  Barnes was just the weapon.” Bruce replied mildly.  “I’d think you’d understand how that works.” 

Tony took a long, slow breath, clenching his teeth against a stab of pain from his rebuilt sternum.   Maybe he shouldn’t have made his Science Bro an impromptu - and only semi-willing - therapist.   That said, Bruce had a point.  They both had been appalled by the recordings of the ‘reconditioning sessions’  Barnes had been subjected to. 

“Yeah, yeah  - it’s  a wonder the guy has any mind or memories left at all.” Tony grudgingly admitted.  “But it’s not just me holding a grudge -  Hydra used the Soldier for political purposes across the globe.” 

“Which is why we need to find Barnes first.”  Natasha sauntered in, fresh from yet another Senate hearing.   “Get him somewhere safe and then leverage what we’ve found in Hydra’s files  to control the narrative.” 

“I have an idea for the finding part.”  Bruce said,  tapping at his keyboard.  “Tony, remember how we searched for the Tesseract?   I think we could use the same algorithm  to search for the power source that Barnes’ prosthetic uses.” 

“And JARVIS can tap into surveillance feeds and run facial recognition software to try to track him down,”  Tony added. 

“What then, Tony?” Natasha asked, her expression unexpectedly soft, as if she understood at least some of the emotional upheaval he was dealing with.  

“I don’t know,” he answered honestly.  “I guess it depends on who we end up finding.”  

[thoughtportal]

MPs in Hungary have voted to ban Pride events and allow authorities to use facial recognition software to identify attenders and potentially fine them, in what Amnesty International has described as a “full-frontal attack” on LGBTQ+ people.

The legislation – the latest by the prime minister, Viktor Orbán, and his rightwing populist party to target LGBTQ+ rights – was pushed through parliament on Tuesday. Believed to be the first of its kind in the EU’s recent history, the nationwide ban passed by 136 votes to 27 after it was submitted to parliament one day earlier.

It amends the country’s law on assembly to make it an offence to hold or attend events that violate Hungary’s contentious “child protection” legislation, which bars any “depiction or promotion” of homosexuality to minors under the age of 18.

The legislation was condemned by Amnesty International, which described it as the latest in a series of discriminatory measures the Hungarian authorities have taken against LGBTQ+ people.

“The spurious justification for the passing of this law – that events and assemblies would be ‘harmful to children’ – is based on harmful stereotypes and deeply entrenched discrimination, homophobia and transphobia,” it said in a statement.

“This law is a full-frontal attack on the LGBTI community and a blatant violation of Hungary’s obligations to prohibit discrimination and guarantee freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” it said, adding that the ban would turn the clock back 30 years in Hungary by undermining hard-won rights.

Hadja Lahbib, the EU commissioner for equality, suggested the new law contravened the values of the 27-nation bloc, posting: “Everyone should be able to be who they are, live & love freely. The right to gather peacefully is a fundamental right to be championed across the European Union. We stand with the LGBTQI community – in Hungary & in all member states.

After lawmakers first submitted the bill on Monday, the organisers of Budapest Pride said the law was aimed at turning the LGBTQ+ minority into a “scapegoat” in order to silence critics of Orbán’s government.

“This is not child protection, this is fascism,” organisers wrote. Budapest Pride will mark its 30th anniversary this year, bringing together thousands of people to make visible the community’s struggle for freedom, safety and equal rights even as those in power continually seek to dehumanise them, it noted.

“The government is trying to restrict peaceful protests with a critical voice by targeting a minority,” it added. “Therefore, as a movement, we will fight for the freedom of all Hungarians to demonstrate.”

Organisers said they planned to go ahead with the march in Budapest, despite the law’s stipulation thatthose who attend a prohibited event could face fines of up to 200,000 Hungarian forints (£425).

As the vote was held, opposition MPs ignited smoke bombs, filling the parliamentary chamber with thick plumes of colourful smoke.

Opposition MPs set off flares in the Hungarian parliament. Photograph: Boglárka Bodnár/AP

After the law’s adoption, a spokesperson for Budapest Pride, Jojó Majercsik, told the Associated Press that the organisation had received an outpouring of support.

“Many, many people have been mobilised,” Majercsik said. “It’s a new thing, compared with the attacks of the last years, that we’ve received many messages and comments from people saying: ‘Until now I haven’t gone to Pride, I didn’t care about it, but this year I’ll be there and I’ll bring my family.’”

Since returning to lead the country in 2010, Orbán has faced criticism for weakening democratic institutions, including accusations of gradually undermining the rule of law.

His government, in turn, has sought to portray itself as a champion of traditional family values, unleashing a crackdown that has drawn parallels with Russia as it adopts measures such as blocking same-sex couples from adopting children and barring any mention of LGBTQ+ issues in school education programmes.

Tamás Dombos, a project coordinator at the Hungarian LGBTQ+ rights group Háttér Society, described Orbán’s assault on minorities as a tactic aimed at distracting voters.

“It’s a very common strategy of authoritarian governments not to talk about the real issues that people are affected by: the inflation, the economy, the terrible condition of education and healthcare,” said Dombos.

Orbán, he continued, “has been here with us for 15 years lying into people’s faces, letting the country rot basically, and then coming up with these hate campaigns”.

The restrictions on Pride come as Orbán is facing an unprecedented challenge from a former member of the Fidesz party’s elite, Péter Magyar, in advance of next year’s elections, leading some to suggest the ban was aimed at winning over far-right voters.

“It is easy to win votes by restricting the rights of a minority in a conservative society,” Szabolcs Hegyi of the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (TASZ) told Agence France-Presse.

He warned, however, that the curtailing of civil liberties, seemingly for political gain, was a slippery slope. “Eventually, you can get to a situation where virtually no one can protest except those who are not critical of the government’s position

[opinated-user]

Kiera’s info sheet also says that one of her goals (in fact, her only goal aside from staying with her sister) is to “create a facial translation app.” Maybe I’m wrong, but I feel like that implies that Iris’ expressions/facial communication is meant to be universal; that every nonverbal person, or at least a significant enough amount for a translation app to be of any use, means this when they furrow their brows, and means that when they bite their lip.

indeed, that... i just don't see that being a good idea at all. something as simple as shaking one's head can have different meanings depending on the culture that they are in, so it's only logical to presume that every other gesture can be just as relative depending on the context and that is before even taking into account other factors like neurodiversity, facial paralysis or just... different personalities. a nervous person might have their eyes moving around, the same as another person that is just bored, the same as someone that is desperately trying to remember something. how are you going to be able to just see someone with eyes moving around and come out with a singular interpretation? not to mention how facial recognition softwares already have an issue of discriminating against dark skinned people or don't read them at all.

i feel like something like that is just "body language analysis" with less steps and therefore has all the exact same issues with it. more so, even ignoring all the practical setbacks for such an idea, narratively speaking it feels gross. because kiera grew up with a neurodivergent mute sister who apparently she cares so much about, you'd hope that she'd know already to not rely on facial expression to communicate with someone with that same condition. kiera is supposed to be able to understand iris because iris trust her and kiera put the time and effort into understanding her sister. that's the foundation of their whole relationship. so, as a writer for such a story, i can't for the life of me understand why would you immediately undermine all of that by giving that sister the "brilliant" idea of having an instant translator of faces on her pocket, so nobody else has to spend any time, effort or patience into understanding another person and turn it into a established result to read on the screen. assuming that such an app is even possible, which it isn't, why would kiera spend any amount of time on that when she should know that if someone doesn't want to understand her sister, then of course they won't even if they had that app? why would she reason that "translating faces" is exactly what the world needs? i think i know the reasoning, to create this thing that will make it so mute people like iris can be understood easily by others and hopefully makes matters easier. maybe the idea too is that neurodivergent people are able to understand neurotypicals too, in order to understand other forms of social cues. the part where this falls flat is precisely the concentrate on facial expression. now, if kiera wanted to make a translator of ASL that can also be a tool for people to learn the language, that's another story. that's not only possible, it would actually be useful both for abled and disabled people.

[jorgielua101]

BLOG 3 9/12

How does cyberfeminism address the needs and perspective of women of color?

Cyberfeminism addresses the needs and perspectives of women of color by allowing women to have a platform to spread the message without being harassed or silenced. This ingenious use of technology is a new expression of feminist practice called cyberfeminism(Daniels, 2004). An example where technologies brought awareness to race, gender, and embodiment in the digital era is when a website was created called HollabackNYC. This website was created to expose men harassing women and encourages women to catch harassers by snapping a photo of the act and posting it on the website to bring awareness. This form of cyberfeminism can start a movement towards gender equality. By promoting diverse voices in tech and digital media. Which challenges marginalization and stereotypes. Cyberbullying helps people from all movements come together to address both social economic and cultural to help spread amounts different feminist groups that address certain issues women of color face. In the text, it states that Saskia Sassen’s work addresses the embeddedness of the digital world and talks about the ways that digital technologies “enable women to engage in new forms of contestation and proactive endeavors in multiple different realms, from political to economic” (Daniels, 2009) Cyberfeminism is a movement that will continue to skyrocket.

How does data driven algorithm impact healthcare inequality?

Data-driven algorithms impact healthcare inequality because people of color do not have the same access to higher treatment of healthcare than people who are white and wealthy. People of color have fewer doctor visitations, rather than white people. In the video Race and Technology Professor Nicole Brown states that white people spend about 1800 dollars more on healthcare. This group of people will have a major impact on Healthcare systems deploying algorithms for efficient data-driven decision-making when it comes to making healthcare analysis. This leaves people of color out of the data. People of color already don't get treated equally the same as white people, especially black women. The data is driven is made to prevent people of color from having equal treatment and not taken seriously. The algorithm consistently deemed white people to be more ill and therefore recommended more healthcare.

Does algorithms on social media perpetuates anti-black racism? 

Yes, algorithms on social media perpetuate anti-black racism by programmers inputting their own bias when these algorithms are being created. These biases can be discriminatory towards the black community and people of color. A study in 2020, in "Data&Scoiety" explored how algorithmic biases reinforce racial stereotypes and inequalities (Chung, 2009). An example can be when people who have a darker complexion have trouble using facial recognition systems. This software shows underlying biases in the data and algorithm that is being designed.

How does the use of facial recognition technology affect public government institutions amount racial and ethnic minorities?

Facial recognition technology can be something cool to access and easier to use within iPhones or any unlocking technology that uses facial recognition. Although facial recognition can be beneficial it is very harmful for people of color. For example, some innocent men were falsely accused of a crime due to the cops using facial recognition software that was not 100% developed. A detective in the Woodbridge Police Department sent the photo from the fake driver’s license to state agencies that had access to face recognition technology, according to a police report (Hill, 2020). It turns out that he was the third person known to be falsely arrested based on bad facial recognition. This form of investigating is targeting the black community specifically. It brings social inequality to society by accusing these innocent people of a crime. Some evidence is that in 2019, a national study of over 100 facial recognition algorithms found that they did not work as well on Black and Asian faces. This on going problem, another example of technology discriminating against people of color is when two other Black men — Robert Williams and Michael Oliver, who both live in the Detroit area were also arrested for crimes they did not commit based on bad facial recognition matches (Hill, 2020). All these examples show how facial recognition affects public institutions like police departments when looking for evidence. Having these resources that are not accurate can not only damage someone's life but also put a certain group of people in a box of criminals when they are truly not. 

Racism in, racism out. Public Citizen. (2022, January 3). https://www.citizen.org/article/algorithmic-racism/

Daniels, Jessie. 2009. Rethinking Cyberfeminism(s): Race, Gender, and Embodiment. The Feminist Press

Brown, N. (n.d.). Race and Technology. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8uiAjigKy8&ab_channel=NicoleBrown

Hill, K. (2020, December 29). Another arrest, and jail time, due to a bad facial recognition match. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/29/technology/facial-recognition-misidentify-jail.html

[carriesthewind]

This video pisses me the fuck off whenever I see it, and today I'm not in the mood to just scroll past.

Wow! Am I being lead to panic by scaremongering algorithm fodder completely unsupported by real evidence?! test:

The reason you think something exists is just what you're being told by a nefarious *them*, there is actually a conspiracy behind it!

I, an ordinary person with no expertise who critically examines the world around me, have uncovered this conspiracy.

"That's what they're telling you." (put the emphasis wherever appropriate for the conspiracy of your choice - in this case, it's on *telling*)

This new tech thing is actually a bad idea and the old school method was better - which clearly proves there must be a secret conspiracy, because why allow the possibility of incompetence and investor tech-hype when you can instead assume a highly-competent evil conspiracy?

I will now tell you my conspiracy theory while scrolling rapidly through a document without pausing or allowing you to actually read any of it. This allows me to look like I have proven my claims while doing nothing of the sort. Because do you really think someone could do that? Quickly flash a document on screen and just lie about what it says?

But Owl! This is real! A user upthread found the patent and it *does* prove it!

Yeah. I read the linked patent. Did you?

Let's quote the "real purpose" hidden in the patent, as claimed out in the video:

"The real purpose of these screens is to use the little camera at the top right here to scan your face and use AI facial expression analysis to judge whether or not you like the packaging designs of the product you're looking for."

This is complete made up horseshit.

First, let's look where the reblogger directs us, to column #4 on page 17:

"Preferably, each retail product container further comprises customer-detecting hardware, such as one or more proximity sensors (such as heat maps) , cameras, facial sensors or scanners, and eye-sensors (i.e., iris-tracking sensors). Assuming cameras are employed, preferably cameras are mounted on doors of the retail product containers. Preferably, the cameras have a depth of field of view of twenty feet or more, and have a range of field of view of 170 degrees with preferably 150 degree of facial recognition ability. Preferably, software is employed in association with the cameras to monitor shopper interactions, serve up relevant advertisement content on the displays, and track advertisement engagement in - store." (emphasis added and references to figures removed for readability)

That is the extent of the "nonconsensual data collection."

Now, to be fair, there is some stuff on page 18 and 19 which kinda-sorta-maybe has at least some relation to the claim in the video:

"Preferably, the controller/data collector is configured such that as a shopper stands or lingers in front of a given retail product container, the display associated with the retail product container changes yet again. At this point, preferably the controller/data collector has been able to use the customer-detecting hardware to effectively learn more about that particular customer, such as gender, age, mood, etc. The controller / data collector is configured to take what has been detected about the customer to determine which advertisement and other information to present to that particular customer on the display associated with the retail product container in front of which the customer is standing. By tracking shopper data in parallel with which advertising content is being served on all displays within the viewing range of the shopper, the retailer and the brands are better served, providing new analytics. As such, the system provides advertising, influence opportunities at the moment of purchasing decision, optimizing marketing spend and generating new revenue streams....

"Additionally, preferably all inputs collected by the IOT devices will be analyzed locally as well as remotely (via cloud) to provide the feedback inputs for the system to push more relevant/targeted content, tailored for the consumer. The analytics are preferably conducted anonymously, images captured by cameras are preferably processed to collect statistics on consumer demographic characteristics: (such as age and gender). This data is preferably subsequently analyzed for additional statistics for the retailers that are valuable for in-store merchandise layout design and smart merchandizing, including the ability to track the shoppers “traffic” areas, known as “heat maps”, areas were [sic] customers would concentrate more and spend more time exploring, etc." (emphasis added and references to figures removed for readability) (And note the repeated emphasis on preferably - they don't have a patent to do any of this.)

Which, like, not great! I fucking hate the idea of shit like this! But there is literally nothing here about monitoring your expressions to sell the data about how you react to packaging!

This isn't a nefarious plan hidden in the patent. It's tech bros adding on totally sick ideas about how they can sell this shit to walgreens. (Because to be clear, I'm sure walgreens's corporate office would love to collect and sell this kind of information. But just because they would, doesn't mean they can or are. And this patent sure as hell doesn't prove it.)

Because let me be clear: the image capture of consumers is so irrelevant to the product that it literally isn't even included in the claims section of the patent.

Because the patent is quite explicit and detailed about the idea they are selling big retails stores on - this is a better, new, innovative, tech-driven way to "provide an innovative advertising solution"! (The words "AI," "intelligent," and "machine learning" are deployed liberally, but in the same way that "blockchain" was a few years ago. It's advertising tech hype.)

I want to make it clear - the OP in the video is straight up lying to you. Whether for fun or profit or just attention, I don't know and I don't care. If you shared this, you probably should have know better, but everyone makes mistakes. OP, on the other hand, is just a fucking liar.

But Owl! What about "the senators looking into this"?

I don't know how to tell you this, but thing linked about is a press release by a politician's office. That doesn't mean it's not true, but it's not evidence on it's own. Like, the letter linked in the link included links to sources, but is not itself evidence (ooh, layers of links to actually get to a source, my favorite)(actually my computer wouldn't even goddam open the links to the source, I had to independently search for it).

Anyway, the letter to Kroger linked in the press release by the senators contains a single sentence and a single link relevant to the claim here (linked for your convenience because it sure as hell wasn't for mine). Unfortunately, this article is itself based on a goddam press release (That isn't linked! Again, you're welcome.)

And when we finally get to the underlying fucking source. "In addition to transforming the customer experience and enhancing productivity for associates, the EDGE Shelf will enable Kroger to generate new revenue by selling digital advertising space to consumer packaged goods (CPGs) brands. Using video analytics, personalized offers and advertisements can be presented based on customer demographics." So it's purporting to something *kind of* like the claim in the video, but an entirely different format completely unrelated to the thing the video is scaremongering about.

Now Kroger did actually start using the advertising screens in 2023. And you can believe what you want about the data privacy claims and the claims about not using video, just sensors (which remember is entirely consistent with the patent). But remember: being skeptical of a company's claims is fine and good! It does not mean you have proven they are lying, and it especially does not prove you have claimed they are doing something extremely specific! And most of the articles, and the letter from the senators, are (much more reasonably) concerned about so-called "dynamic" or surge pricing. (Which is not related to the screens.)

Like goddamn. Aren't there enough real problems with surveillance and price-gorging to be concerned about without having to make up fake ones? Hell, why can't we at least be concerned with the real problems with those dumb screens, which is that the a) make shopping harder and b) catch fire?

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Trudy Ring at The Advocate:

Hungary, led by anti-LGBTQ+ authoritarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, is seeking to ban the Pride celebration in Budapest and use facial recognition software to identify those who attend the event if it is held in defiance of the ban. And Donald Trump has emboldened Hungary to make the move, Hungarian officials say. Hungary is also considering a constitutional amendment that would say the nation recognizes only two genders, male and female, mirroring an executive order issued by Trump. A bill to ban the Pride march was introduced in Parliament Monday, the Associated Press reports. It “would make it an offense to hold or attend events that violate Hungary’s contentious ‘child protection’ legislation, which prohibits the ‘depiction or promotion’ of homosexuality to minors,” according to the AP. The country enacted that law in 2021. The bill introduced Monday is likely to pass, as Orbán’s ruling coalition has two-thirds of the seats in Parliament. Orbán, a close ally of Trump, had “hinted at banning the event in his annual state of the nation address” in February, Agence France-Presse reports. His chief of staff said Trump’s election as U.S. president had helped facilitate further anti-LGBTQ+ moves in Hungary. “We believe that Pride marching through downtown, now that the U.S. ambassador can no longer lead it, should not be tolerated by the country,” Chief of Staff Gergely Gulyás told reporters at the time, according to AFP. [...] The “two sexes” constitutional amendment was introduced last Tuesday by Fidesz, the nation’s ruling party. The party also proposed an amendment “emphasizing the protection of children’s physical, mental and moral development over all other rights,” Reuters reports, and this could be used to target the Pride event as well.

Hungary seeks to further restrict LGBTQ+ expression by banning Budapest Pride and call for the amending of the constitution to recognize only male and female genders as part of the transphobia-laden trans erasure campaign akin to what Trump and Putin are doing.

See Also:

The Guardian: Hungary’s government submits bill to ban Budapest Pride event

[mariacallous]

VSquare SPICY SCOOPS

BUDAPEST–BEIJING SECURITY PACT COVERTLY INCLUDES CHINESE SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY

Fresh details regarding Xi Jinping’s May visit to Budapest have begun to surface. As it was widely reported, a new security pact between Hungary and the People's Republic of China (PRC) allows for Chinese law enforcement officers to conduct patrols within Hungary—which is to say, within a European Union member state. Chinese dissidents living in the EU fear that the PRC may abuse this agreement: Chinese policemen “can even go to European countries to perform secret missions and arbitrarily arrest dissidents,” as I reported in a previous Goulash newsletter. However, there's an additional as yet undisclosed aspect of this security arrangement. According to reliable sources familiar with recent Chinese-Hungarian negotiations, a provision permits the PRC to deploy surveillance cameras equipped with advanced AI capabilities, such as facial recognition software, on Hungarian territory.  The Orbán government already maintains a significant surveillance infrastructure, including CCTV systems, and there are indications that, besides the Pegasus spyware, they may have acquired Israeli-developed facial recognition technology as well. Nevertheless, allowing the PRC to establish their own surveillance apparatus within Hungary raises distinct concerns. Even if purportedly intended to monitor Chinese investments, institutions, and personnel, the potential involvement of Chinese technology firms, some of which have ties to the People’s Liberation Army or Chinese intelligence and are subject to Western sanctions, could complicate Hungary's relations with its NATO allies. The Hungarian government, when approached for comment, redirected inquiries to the Hungarian police, who claimed that Chinese policemen won’t be authorized to investigate or take any kind of action on their own. My questions on surveillance cameras and AI technology remained unanswered.   

CHINA FURTHER SPLITS THE VISEGRÁD GROUP

One of the factors enabling Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's maneuvers is the deep-seated divisions among its official allies, particularly evident within the Visegrád Group, regarding China. While Slovakia largely aligns with Hungary’s amicable stance towards both China and Russia, Poland adopts a more nuanced position, vehemently opposing the Kremlin while maintaining a softer approach towards China, as previously discussed in this newsletter. Conversely, the Czech Republic takes a hawkish stance towards both China and Russia. During a recent off-the-record discussion with journalists in Prague, a senior Czech official specializing in foreign policy candidly expressed skepticism about the efficacy of the V4 platform. “At this moment, it’s not possible to have a V4 common stance on China. I thought we already learned our lesson with the pandemic and how our supply chains [too dependent on China] were disrupted,” the Czech official said, adding that “I don’t know what needs to happen” for countries to realize the dangers of relying too heavily on China. The Czech official said Xi Jinping’s recent diplomatic visits to Paris, Belgrade, and Budapest was proof China is using the "divide and conquer" tactic. The Czech official felt that it isn’t only Hungary and Slovakia that are neglecting national security risks associated with Beijing, noting that “France doesn’t want to discuss China in NATO,” underscoring a broader reluctance among European nations to confront the challenges posed by China's growing influence.  

CZECHS REMAIN STEADFAST IN SUPPORT OF TAIWAN, OTHERS MAY JOIN THEIR RANKS

In discussions with government officials and China experts both in Prague and Taipei, the Czech Republic and Lithuania emerged as the sole countries openly supportive of Taiwan. This is partly attributed to the currently limited presence of Chinese investments and trade in these nations, affording them the freedom to adopt a more assertive stance. Tomáš Kopečný, the Czech government’s envoy for the reconstruction of Ukraine, emphasized in a conversation with journalists in Prague that regardless of which parties are in power, the Czech Republic’s policy toward China and Taiwan is unlikely to waver. When queried about the stance of the Czech opposition, Kopečný replied, “You could not have heard much anti-Taiwanese stance. Courting [China] was done by the Social Democrats, but not by the [strongest opposition party] ANO party. I don’t see a major player in Czech politics having pro-Chinese policies. It’s not a major domestic political issue.” This suggests that even in the event of an Andrej Babis-led coalition, a shift in allegiance is improbable. In Taipei, both a Western security expert and a senior legislator from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) asserted that numerous Western countries covertly provide support to Taiwan to avoid antagonizing China. The DPP legislator hinted that the training of a Taiwanese air force officer at the NATO Defence College in Rome is “just the tip of the iceberg.” The legislator quickly added with a smile, “the media reported it already, so I can say that.” Delving deeper, the Western expert disclosed that since Russia's aggression in Ukraine, there has been increased communication between Taiwan and EU countries, particularly those closely monitoring Russia, including on military matters. “There is a lot going on behind the scenes,” the expert noted, with the caveat that certain specifics remain confidential. When asked which Western countries might follow the lead of the Czechs and Lithuanians in openly supporting Taiwan, the expert suggested that most Central and Eastern European nations might be open to such alliances.

MCCONNELL’S CRITICISM OF ORBÁN PRECEDED BY KEY AIDE’S VISIT

In a significant setback to the Orbán government’s lobbying efforts aimed at US Republicans, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell condemned Orbán's government for its close ties with China, Russia, and Iran during a recent Senate floor speech (watch it here or read it here). “Orban’s government has cultivated the PRC as its top trading partner outside the EU. It’s given Beijing sweeping law enforcement authorities to hunt dissidents on Hungarian soil. It was the first European country to join Beijing’s Belt-and-Road Initiative, which other European governments – like Prime Minister Meloni’s in Italy – have wisely decided to leave,” McConnell stated. This speech appeared to come out of the blue, as there had been no prior indications of McConnell’s interest in Hungary. However, in reality, McConnell’s key aide on national security, Robert Karem, made an official trip to Budapest last October and held multiple meetings, according to a source familiar with the visit. Before working for McConnell, Karem served as an advisor to former Vice President Dick Cheney and as Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs under the Trump administration. Multiple sources closely following US-Hungarian relations suggest that McConnell’s outspoken criticism of Orbán, despite the Hungarian Prime Minister’s recent visit to Donald Trump in Florida, is the clearest indication yet that Orbán may have crossed a red line by courting nearly all of the main adversaries of the US.  

RUSSIAN PRESENCE FOR PAKS TO EXCEED 1,000 IN HUNGARY BY 2025

Russia’s nuclear industry is not yet under EU sanctions, and as a result, Rosatom’s Hungarian nuclear power plant project, Paks II, is still moving forward. While construction of the plant faces numerous regulatory hurdles, significant Russian involvement is anticipated in the city of Paks. A source directly engaged in the project revealed that the current contingent of Rosatom personnel and other Russian "experts" working on Paks II is projected to double or even triple in the coming year. "Presently, approximately 400 Russians are engaged in the Paks project, with expectations for this figure to surpass 1,000 by 2025," the source disclosed. This disclosure is particularly noteworthy given the lack of precise public data on the exact number of Russians in Paks. Previous estimates, reportedly from the security apparatus of a certain Central European country, suggested a figure around 700 – a number that appears somewhat inflated to me. However, it is anticipated to escalate rapidly. Notably, the staunchly anti-immigration Orbán government recently granted exemptions for "migrant workers" involved in both the Russian Paks II and the Chinese Belt and Road projects, such as the Budapest-Belgrade railway reconstruction, allowing them to obtain 5-year residency permits more easily. Central European security experts I’ve asked view the anticipated influx of Russian – and Chinese – workers into Hungary as a security concern for the entire region. Specifically, there are fears that Russia might deploy numerous new undercover intelligence operatives to the Paks II project, who could subsequently traverse other Schengen zone countries with ease. These concerns are not unfounded, as Russia has a history of leveraging state-owned enterprises like Rosatom to cloak its intelligence activities, according to Péter Buda, a former senior Hungarian counterintelligence officer. We reached out for comment, but the Hungarian government has yet to respond to inquiries regarding this matter. (For further insights into the Orbán government's involvement in the Rosatom project, read "How Orbán saved Russia’s Hungarian nuclear power plant project" by my esteemed Direkt36 colleagues.)

[evaluateai]

Debunking 9 Common Myths About AI in Recruitment

Organisations and HR professionals show excitement as well as concern regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in recruitment. On one hand, many people celebrate its potential to revolutionise the recruiting process, on the other hand, some people show scepticism due to myths. These myths arise from out-of-date information or a lack of comprehension regarding AI's function in hiring. This blog aims to debunk the common myths about AI in recruitment and illustrate how cutting-edge platforms like Evaluate Ai are changing the future of hiring.

Myth #1: AI in Recruitment Is Only Used for Resume Screening

In the early days, AI was only used for screening resumes, but today AI is used for a wide range of functions, including talent sourcing, interview automation, and even candidate engagement. AI is currently used in all stages of talent acquisition, including sourcing, interviewing, and onboarding, according to SHRM 2024 Talent Trends. To evaluate soft skills, communication, technical, and problem-solving abilities, platforms like Evaluate AI provide sophisticated tools like the Hum.Ai.n Interviews. The tool mimics real-world, human-like interviews. Today's AI tools can conduct behavioural assessments, analyse video interviews, and provide real-time feedback. In short, they do not just see what is on paper but try to understand the candidate fully. 

Myth #2: AI Replaces Human Recruiters

The belief that AI will supplant human recruiters is a common misconception in the HR industry. However, the truth is that AI empowers recruiters rather than replacing them. Time-consuming and repetitive tasks like scheduling interviews, following up with candidates, and preliminary screening are automated by tools like Evaluate AI's Virtual HR. This enables recruiters to concentrate on relationship development, strategic decision-making, and other high-impact activities. Relationship-building, empathy, and human intuition are still essential elements of effective recruiting and cannot be replaced by AI tools. 

Myth #3: All AI Tools in Hiring are Biased 

The data used to train AI tools leads to bias in AI. But when it is built responsibly and audited continuously, it can actually reduce human bias. In fact, when AI is used in recruitment, it makes it possible to filter candidates based on their performance and not based on their qualifications, race, gender, ethnicity, etc. By utilising a variety of datasets, carrying out frequent audits, and continuously improving models, platforms such as Evaluate AI eliminate bias from their hiring tools.

Myth #4: AI Can’t Assess Soft Skills or Culture Fit

Natural Language Processing (NLP), sentiment analysis, and behavioural pattern recognition are being used by modern AI hiring tools to assess emotional cues and soft skills. These tools assess soft skills, including communication, flexibility, and leadership potential, by analysing a candidate's voice, tone, facial expressions, linguistic patterns, and reaction time. Evaluate Ai integrates these assessments to provide employers with a detailed understanding of whether a candidate resonates with the organisation’s values and culture.

Myth #5: Only large corporations can afford AI recruitment software

This used to be true, but now AI hiring solutions are both accessible and scalable.  Even start-ups and early-stage firms can benefit from automation thanks to the numerous AI systems available today that are designed to support all forms of organisations. Platforms like Evaluate Ai cater to small, mid-sized, and even large organisations, regardless of the number of candidates you are hiring.

Myth #6: AI Makes Hiring Impersonal

Numerous organisations hesitate to incorporate AI into their hiring process due to the belief that it eliminates the personal element. When implemented correctly, AI boosts personalisation. By offering quicker responses, more individualised communication, and regular follow-ups, it enhances the applicant experience. 

Myth #7: AI Applies a One-Size-Fits-All Approach

It is no longer the case that AI use the same templates and scoring for all roles. Today's AI platforms are very configurable. Using Evaluate Ai recruiters an provide success indicators for every employment function, whether it is a technical or creative role. AI i more adaptable than traditional hiring methods due to its flexibility. Our solutions at Evaluate Ai are very customizable. We create assessments based on job descriptions, industry standards, and company values. Whether you're hiring a marketing lead or a software engineer, this guarantees fairness, accuracy, and relevancy.

Myth 8: AI in Recruitment Is Just a Passing Trend

AI in recruitment is often seen as a fad, something that is trendy now but will eventually disappear as businesses go back to traditional hiring methods. But according to studies, it is the future of hiring. According to SHRM 2024 Talent Trends, 88% of HRs mention that using AI in hiring helps them save time and improve their efficiency, while 35% mention that it reduces their hiring costs. Companies need smarter, faster, and more accurate tools to stay ahead of the competition in labour markets, where candidate expectations are changing and competition is growing.

Myth 9: Candidates Don’t Like AI Interviews

Many companies believe that candidates feel uncomfortable or mistrust AI interviews and prefer traditional interviews. A few years ago, this could have been the case, but today's job seekers, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, are becoming more at ease with technology. Many candidates AI interviews because they can be given the comfort of their home and at a time that is convenient for them. Evaluate Ai provides an engaging, adaptive experience that closely resembles human interactions, reducing any difficulties for candidates.  By providing real-time feedback, transparent procedures, and user-friendly interfaces, it puts the candidate experience first and makes the process as smooth as possible.

Embrace the Reality of AI in Recruitment

It’s time to separate fact from fiction. AI in recruitment is designed to support recruiters and not replace them. At Evaluate AI, we're helping companies hire more intelligently and ethically while enhancing speed, quality, and equity. Our solutions are tailored to your specific employment requirements, regardless of whether you are a startup or an expanding business.

Book a free demo today and discover how Evaluate Ai can elevate your recruitment, without losing the human touch.

[kla1991]

Walmart does the same thing as Target, and once they press charges you’ll be banned from all Walmarts for life. (Yes they can tell, yes they will kick you out). Many chain grocery stores will do this, too. I worked in my community’s restorative justice program and half our cases were people who thought they were getting away with shoplifting; they can and will tally that shit up for months, even a year or more, with the express intention of charging you with a felony.

Shoplifting is essential sometimes, and you shouldn’t be a dick to people who are doing it or feel bad if you have to resort to it yourself. However, facial recognition software has made the risks greater, and these big companies are vicious, so it’s not as easy to get away with as it might seem, even when you think you’ve gotten away with it already.

We are forced to live in a system that steals from us daily, Kill snitch culture.

[brocoffeeengineer]

Digital Humans Are Here: How 3D Animation Is Achieving Hyperrealism

In a world rapidly driven by virtual interaction and AI-powered experiences, digital humans have emerged as one of the most fascinating frontiers of technology and animation. These aren’t just avatars or video game characters—they’re incredibly realistic, emotionally expressive, and often indistinguishable from real people. At the heart of their creation lies the marriage of 3D animation with hyperrealism.

From blockbuster films to high-end marketing campaigns and virtual influencers, hyperrealistic digital humans are changing how we perceive interaction, emotion, and presence in the digital world.

What Are Digital Humans?

Digital humans are 3D-rendered characters that are designed to mimic the complexity of real-life humans—right down to pores, wrinkles, and subtle emotional expressions. They're sculpted using high-resolution modeling software, layered with advanced texture mapping, and brought to life through motion capture and AI-driven facial animation.

What sets digital humans apart from traditional animated characters is their stunning realism. They blink, breathe, emote, and speak like us. With voice synthesis and behavior modeling, they can hold real-time conversations, assist customers, or even act in movies.

The Evolution of Realism in 3D Animation

3D animation has come a long way from the stylized cartoons of the early 2000s. While stylization still has its place, there's been a significant demand for hyperrealism in recent years. We’re now at a stage where audience expectations are pushing studios to blend VFX, AI, and traditional animation principles to create characters so life-like that viewers feel emotionally connected to them.

This shift is not just about better tools; it's about a change in narrative style. Stories now explore more human emotions, complex moral questions, and social commentary. Hyperrealistic characters make these stories feel grounded, even if the settings are fantastical.

The Role of AI and Machine Learning

One of the biggest drivers of hyperrealistic digital humans is AI. Machine learning models are now capable of generating highly detailed human features, replicating voice patterns, and simulating micro-expressions.

Motion capture, too, has become more affordable and sophisticated. Facial recognition software, paired with neural rendering, can track an actor's face in real time and transfer their exact expressions onto a digital model. This reduces production time and opens doors to even small studios or independent creators.

Moreover, AI is beginning to automate the more time-consuming aspects of animation, allowing artists to focus on the creative storytelling side. This balance between automation and artistry is crucial in creating digital humans that don’t just look real but feel real.

Where We See Digital Humans Today

The application of digital humans has gone beyond film and gaming:

Virtual Influencers: Digital characters with online personas, brand deals, and millions of followers.

Customer Service: AI avatars acting as support agents in banking, healthcare, and retail.

Training & Simulation: Realistic patients or customers in training scenarios for healthcare professionals and retail staff.

Metaverse & VR: Personalized avatars that can replicate real-life appearance and motion for immersive virtual experiences.

In all these applications, emotional engagement is key. Whether it’s a customer service avatar that responds with empathy or a film character that cries convincingly, emotional realism is what drives the connection.

Rising Demand for Hyperreal Artists

The rise of hyperrealism has created a surge in demand for artists skilled in 3D sculpting, rigging, lighting, and behavioral animation. Studios are now looking for talent that can not only model a face but animate it with precision and subtlety. And as tools like Unreal Engine, Blender, and ZBrush evolve, so does the skill set required to use them.

Cities with growing creative industries are responding to this demand. For example, specialized programs focusing on digital sculpting, anatomy, AI-based rigging, and photorealistic rendering are being introduced to meet this need. In such cities, it’s now possible to enroll in an Animation course in Hyderabad that includes exposure to industry-standard software, motion capture techniques, and hyperreal design theory.

This industry shift is also empowering freelancers and independent creators. With the right training and tools, solo artists can now work on global projects involving digital doubles, virtual influencers, or cinematic avatars.

Latest Trends in Digital Human Development

One of the most exciting trends in this space is the integration of real-time rendering. Game engines now support cinematic-quality rendering in real time, making it possible to interact with digital humans live—whether in a video call, a virtual showroom, or during a product launch.

Another emerging trend is AI-driven personalization. Brands are creating digital humans tailored to specific demographics or individual user preferences. This is particularly impactful in luxury retail, mental health services, and education, where a more “human” interface makes a significant difference in user engagement.

With advancements in neural rendering and generative AI, we’re getting closer to creating digital humans that can age, express dynamic personalities, and evolve over time—just like us.

Challenges on the Horizon

Despite the momentum, creating hyperrealistic digital humans comes with challenges. Ethical questions around digital identity, deepfakes, and representation are increasingly important. As these avatars become more indistinguishable from real people, creators and companies must take responsibility for transparency and consent.

From a technical standpoint, realism is not just skin-deep. Achieving lifelike muscle movement, eye reflections, and spontaneous micro-reactions still poses a challenge. Even the most advanced systems can fall into the "uncanny valley" if not executed carefully.

However, ongoing research in AI, biomechanics, and physics-based simulation is closing these gaps faster than expected.

Conclusion: A New Era of Digital Storytelling

Digital humans are not just technological marvels—they are becoming narrative tools, emotional bridges, and brand ambassadors. As hyperrealism continues to mature, storytellers now have access to characters who can deliver performances as nuanced and impactful as real actors.

This growing field also creates space for new talent, especially in cities where animation, gaming, and VFX industries are on the rise. If you're looking to join this digital revolution, enrolling in a 2D Animation course in Hyderabad can be a smart and strategic entry point. It provides a strong artistic foundation, while offering exposure to the tools and principles shaping the future of hyperrealism.

The blend of technology and creativity has never been more exciting—and digital humans are at the center of this new frontier.

[afrofuturismreality]

Afrofuturism In The Context of AI: The Worries

In my Afrofuturism course, we explored how Black artists, writers, and thinkers use science fiction and speculative futures to imagine liberation beyond systemic oppression. One topic that really stood out to me was the relationship between Afrofuturism and artificial intelligence. I found the intersection of technology and race both fascinating and deeply unsettling. Because of this, I decided to do more research outside of class, and what I discovered made me even more passionate about the issue. AI technologies are not objective tools. In many cases, they reflect and reinforce the same racial inequalities that Afrofuturism seeks to dismantle.

Outside of class, I have also learned how facial recognition software often misidentifies Black individuals. This led me to research the case of Robert Williams, a Black man in Detroit who was wrongfully arrested after a facial recognition system matched him to a surveillance image. The technology failed him, not because of random error, but because these systems are trained on data that overrepresents white features and underrepresents Black ones. This is not just a technical problem. It is a reflection of how systemic bias can become embedded in the very tools we trust to make fair decisions.

In class, we talked about AI spreading racial misinformation. Some AI programs have repeated the false conspiracy theory of a "white genocide" in South Africa. Despite being widely debunked, this narrative appears in AI-generated text and images because these systems pull from online content where such lies are still promoted. Seeing how AI can legitimize dangerous ideas under the appearance of neutrality was alarming. It made me realize that without critical oversight, AI can become a powerful amplifier of racism.

Additionally, we also studied the work of Janelle Monáe, whose album Dirty Computer imagines a future where Black queer people resist being erased by a technologically oppressive system. Her music and visuals helped me understand how Afrofuturism is not just about science fiction, but also about resistance and imagination. After learning that voice recognition software often struggles to understand African American Vernacular English, I saw how even basic digital tools can marginalize Black users by failing to recognize their voices and language.

This course has shown me that Afrofuturism is not only a form of artistic expression but also a powerful lens for analyzing modern technologies like AI. Through continued research, I have come to believe that Black voices must be central in the development and critique of AI. Only then can we ensure that the future we build is one that serves everyone, not just the powerful.

[the-mountain-flower]

Robots who cannot express facial emotions, who are a model that usually can.

Robots who need replacements for parts that have stopped being made.

Robots with processing delays.

Robots whose facial/voice recognition software doesn't work.

Robot disabilities. Robot who charges slowly and loses power incredibly fast and is always tired. Robot with malfunctioning lenses and can’t process visual information properly. Robot that can’t process anything too large and at a fast rate or else they’ll shut down. Robot with limbs screwed on too loose/just can’t attach correctly, so if they’re not careful they fall out. Robot disabilities,,,

[teen--spirit]

The Role of AI in Software Secure Remote Proctor

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, artificial intelligence has become the cornerstone of innovation across industries, including online assessments. For organizations like Proctor360 operating in the proctoring and education sector, AI-driven tools are essential in delivering seamless and secure exam experiences. The integration of AI into software secure remote proctor systems enhances monitoring accuracy, detects suspicious activities in real-time, and ensures exam integrity on a global scale. As remote certifications and academic exams grow in popularity, AI technologies have revolutionized how security is maintained without human error or bias.

AI Monitors Exam Behavior in Real-Time Environments

AI-powered software secure remote proctor solutions are capable of continuously monitoring a candidate’s behavior throughout the exam. These intelligent systems track facial expressions, eye movements, and posture changes to detect anomalies or signs of cheating. Proctor360’s approach involves using computer vision and machine learning to assess each test-taker in real-time without relying solely on human proctors. This ensures that any suspicious behavior is flagged automatically and instantly. The benefit lies in uninterrupted exam integrity while reducing reliance on human supervisors.

Facial Recognition Adds Identity Verification Layer

One of the key components of any software secure remote proctor setup is ensuring the test-taker is who they claim to be. AI-driven facial recognition provides an automated method to verify identities by comparing real-time images with previously uploaded photos or official ID documents. This verification is typically performed during the onboarding process and continues to monitor consistency throughout the exam. With companies like Proctor360, identity verification is more accurate, faster, and less intrusive. Unlike manual checks, AI can run across large volumes of test-takers without delay, making it ideal for universities and certification bodies managing hundreds or thousands of examinees simultaneously.

AI Detects Background Activity and Environmental Noise

Another impressive capability of software secure remote proctor systems is their ability to detect background noise, unauthorized people in the room, and screen-sharing attempts. AI models are trained to identify subtle clues like unexpected audio, shadow movements, or device switching during the exam. This ensures that no external assistance goes unnoticed. Proctor360 implements these features to maintain a controlled digital environment, mirroring the strict atmosphere of a physical exam hall. By using AI to monitor surroundings, test integrity is preserved, and exams remain fair for all participants, regardless of location.

Natural Language Processing Flags Suspicious Conversations

Advanced software secure remote proctor systems now include natural language processing (NLP) to analyze audio captured during the test. This technology helps detect any verbal cues that suggest collaboration, instructions being read aloud, or voice-assisted cheating attempts. NLP-powered tools assess tone, frequency, and word usage without violating privacy regulations. Proctor360 leverages these AI models to provide intelligent reporting that highlights potentially dishonest behavior. This level of scrutiny would be nearly impossible with manual monitoring, especially at scale.

AI Provides Scalable and Cost-Effective Solutions

Using AI in software secure remote proctor services significantly reduces the cost and complexity of proctoring large-scale exams. Institutions no longer need to hire numerous human proctors or manage physical testing centers. Instead, AI takes over repetitive tasks such as monitoring, logging, and reporting. Proctor360 ensures that this automated system is scalable enough to handle thousands of candidates while maintaining accuracy and fairness. Moreover, the scalability offered by AI makes remote proctoring an ideal solution for global certifications, distance learning institutions, and corporate training programs that require reliable yet budget-conscious assessment tools.

Intelligent Reporting Makes Post-Exam Reviews Efficient

After an exam, software secure remote proctor platforms generate detailed reports summarizing each candidate’s session. AI enables these reports to include timestamps, flagged events, and risk scores based on behavior. These intelligent insights assist educators and administrators in reviewing potential violations efficiently. Proctor360’s system provides evidence-based reporting that removes guesswork and supports informed decisions. This transparency enhances trust in the remote testing process and speeds up result processing timelines.

Ensures Accessibility Without Compromising Integrity

AI allows software secure remote proctor solutions to cater to a broader range of students, including those with disabilities or from different geographic regions. Customizable alerts, multilingual interfaces, and screen reader compatibility ensure inclusivity while maintaining strict security protocols. Proctor360’s AI-driven tools support a smoother user experience without lowering exam standards. This balance between accessibility and integrity is crucial for organizations striving to provide equal opportunities for learners across the world.

Conclusion

The role of AI in software secure remote proctor technology is not just about automation—it’s about elevating the entire testing experience. From real-time behavior tracking to intelligent post-exam analysis, AI ensures that remote assessments are secure, fair, and scalable. Proctor360 remains at the forefront of this innovation, helping educational institutions and certification providers uphold academic standards without logistical limitations. As the demand for flexible, remote learning and assessments continues to rise, AI’s contribution to secure proctoring will only become more essential.