26th October 2022 - Bianca Ysabel

AI tech is one of the most notable technological innovations of the 21st century.

However, it remains flawed. While potent, AI still lacks flexibility and accuracy compared to human cognition. That is perhaps the biggest flaw that tech giants identify and affects the decision-making process when introducing new AI tech to the public.

That was the motivation behind Microsoft’s decision to phase out public access to their AI-powered facial analysis products.

Microsoft’s AI Facial Recognition Tool: Azure Face API

Microsoft’s Azure Face API offers efficiency and accuracy through the delivery of a low-friction, state-of-the-art facial recognition system that perceives facial features and attributes. The tool recognizes someone’s facial blueprint by matching their ID via a private repository or photo ID. It also recognizes accessories such as face masks, glasses, and face location.

While that is common in facial recognition tech, the Face API has another imperative element: it can perform emotion detection based on videos and images of participants. However, the single element that can potentially revolutionize facial recognition is also the reason for its fall because it’s not flexible or accurate.

Issues of the AI-powered Facial Analysis Product

Being able to recognize an emotion through AI is potent. It opens different applications for both marketing and security. However, the element has become the most significant flaw of the product because a universal facial expression is simply non-existent.

Emotional manifestation through the face differs across various demographics. Also, it is unscientific to equate exterior displays of emotion with inside feelings. While the tech can recognize a ‘frown,’ it cannot make the distinction when recognizing “fury.”

“Experts inside and outside the company have highlighted the lack of scientific consensus on the definition of ‘emotions,’ the challenges in how inferences generalize across use cases, regions, and demographics, and the heightened privacy concerns around this type of capability,” says Natasha Crampton, Microsoft’s chief responsible AI officer.

This lack of universal emotion causes the tech to misidentify feelings, thereby, casting doubt on its efficiency.

Phasing Out Process

Microsoft will remove some parts of the facial recognition services from “Azure Face” and also apply other limitations such as phasing out capabilities in identifying attributes such as gender, smile, age, hair, facial hair, and makeup.

According to Microsoft’s announcement, existing users will lose access to the features starting in June 2023.

However, new customers will no longer have automatic access. The tech remains open to new users but they will need to file an application and provide specific information regarding their deployment plans. While access to some of the features will no longer be available, elements like automated face blurring in pictures and videos remain open to the public.

Interestingly, discontinuation of the feature will only apply to the general public. Microsoft’s Seeing AI, an app for the optically handicapped, will continue to utilize the feature.

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Bianca “Bianx” Ysabel, Digital Administrator

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Disclaimer. The material in this post represents general information only and should not be taken to be legal advice.