Biometric Mirror: Probing the Ethics of AI and Facial Analysis

Biometric Mirror: Probing the Ethics of AI and Facial Analysis 2018 / Newspaper Article

Biometric Mirror: Probing the Ethics of AI and Facial Analysis

Within the realm of artificial intelligence (AI), facial analysis gains popularity. Today, CCTV cameras and advertising screens increasingly link with analysis systems that are able to detect emotions, age, gender and demographic information of people passing by.

But what if AI gets it wrong? And should we even allow AI to make assumptions about ourselves?

In collaboration with science fiction artist Lucy McRae and Science Gallery Melbourne, Biometric Mirror is an immersive installation that blends the act of casually glancing at one's reflection with modern algorithmic perspectives on personality and facial perfection. The research-driven artwork explores the accuracy and flaws of artificial intelligence and the 'uncanny valley' of algorithmic perfection and its potential black mirror outcomes. By encouraging debate about privacy and mass surveillance, we will gain a better understanding of the ethics that sit behind AI.

Citation information:

Wouters, N., Kelly, R., Velloso, E., Wolf, K., Ferdous, H., Newn, J., Joukhadar, Z. and Vetere, F. Biometric Mirror: Exploring Values and Attitudes towards Facial Analysis and Automated Decision-Making. In Proceedings of the Conference on Designing Interactive Systems 2019, ACM (2019). Bibtex Endnote Download PDF

Wouters, N., Blashki, G. and Sykes, H. Artificial Intelligence: For Better or Worse. Future Leaders (Melbourne, Australia), 2019. Bibtex Endnote

Wouters, N. and Vetere, F. Holding a Black Mirror up to Artificial Intelligence. Pursuit (2018). Bibtex Read article

Wouters, N. and Vetere, F. AI Scans your Data to Assess your Character but Biometric Mirror Asks: What if it Gets it Wrong?. The Conversation (2018). Bibtex Read article

Additional information:

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Stories of Exile: Hyperlocal Media Architecture in Contested Spaces 2018 / Publications

Urban Policy for Media Architecture 2017 / Newspaper Article

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Impact of Interactivity on Audience Engagement 2015 / Publications

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StreetTalk: Designing Public Displays for Urban Interaction 2014 / Publications

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Handbook Screens in Public Space 2013 / Books and Book Chapters

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„If Houses Could Talk...”, in De Standaard Avond, Belgium 2014 / National Press

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Niels Wouters, Ph.D. About

innovating at the intersection of technology, design and human experience

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