Facebook's PIPER A Big Step For Artificial Intelligence

It's no secret that Facebook Inc FB has been working to get ahead of the tech curve by pouring money in to the research and development of things like artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality.

Now, together with the University of California, Berkeley, the company's team has created a system called PIPER which the technology community says is a big step forward for AI.

Recognizing More Than Faces

PIPER, short for ‘pose invariant person recognition,' is a new way for computers to recognize individuals in photos. Facial recognition software is nothing new, but this system claims to identify specific people even when their faces are obscured. PIPER uses metrics like body shape and posture to determine who's who in a photo with 83 percent accuracy.

AI Improving

The new technology suggests that computers are becoming nearly as accurate as a human brain at recognizing people. With that kind of accuracy, the new software's potential for use has become very appealing.

Related Link: Move Over Apple, Google's Got Its Own Streaming Service

New Uses

Facebook already uses facial recognition to group photos in its latest offering, Moments, a photo-sharing app. The added accuracy would make Moments even better at grouping photos based on who is in them.

Perhaps the most lucrative way advanced recognition software can be used is in the advertising industry, where data is king. Firms could use the technology to find out more about a person's interests and activities in order to better target their customer base. The software has also been suggested for use by law enforcement agencies, who may find value in the technology if they need to locate a specific person.

However, PIPER is likely to draw some backlash from the public who have become increasingly concerned about privacy. In Europe where Facebook is already being investigated due to its privacy practices, such a service may not be well received by regulators.