AI changing the face of facial recognition

With the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 seemingly in retreat, workplaces and educational institutions are opening up. Yet, COVID-era precautions to contain the infection spread - wearing masks and practising social distancing - may be required awhile. Increasingly, governments are using facial recognition technology fused with artificial intelligence to enforce these precautions.

In a recent research paper published in SN Computer Science journal (bit.ly/3Jsn1pA), Kinshuk Sengupta, data scientist at Microsoft, and Praveen Ranjan Srivastava, Associate Professor at IIM Rohtak, have proposed a technology framework, based on Artificial Intelligence and Edge Computing, aimed at tracking and tracing people who dodge these precautionary policies. They proposed new Edge-AI algorithm to build technology-oriented solutions to detect mask usage and social distancing.

The framework, as the researchers envisage it, would encompass video feeds from a surveillance camera and Internet of Things (IoT)-Edge Computing devices placed in public places or at workplaces to track people's movement. The study, they claim, provides "directional support" for new technology adoption for policymakers from identified gaps in the COVID-19 situation. They reckon that the framework will not only assist the government, but will encourage industry practices to build stronger surveillance systems within the workplace for stricter adherence to social distancing and other precautions.