What are the concerns with facial recognition technology?

YouTube

Nicholas Thompson, editor-in-chief of WIRED, discusses technology industry news today:

What are the concerns with facial recognition and will IBM's decision to no longer offer the tech mark the end of its use?

The concern is that the technology is racially biased. It's better at picking out white faces than black faces. Another concern is it could be abused by authorities like the police, who have a lot of power, they can immediately identify who everyone is. Will IBM dropping out end it? No, IBM was kind of far behind on this technology.

Has the technological decoupling between the US and China accelerated since COVID-19?

A little bit. But what's really happened is the political decoupling has gotten much worse. And over time, the political break will lead to a greater technological break.

As our work-from-home situations continue, has COVID-19 changed the workplace forever, even after the pandemic?

Yes, it will absolutely change the way we work in the near future. We'll have lines marking how close we can get to our colleagues. And in the long run, I think many more people are going to work from home and the whole nature of what an office means will change.

More from GZERO Media

Rebel forces seized Mengh Airbase and the city of Tel Rifaat in the Aleppo countryside on December 1, 2024, following clashes with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Syrian regime forces.
Photo by Rami Alsayed/NurPhoto

In case anyone has forgotten just how complicated Syria’s civil war always was, the recent drama around Aleppo escalated on Monday as the Syrian National Army, a group backed by Turkey, attacked US-backed Kurdish groups near the city.

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier leaves following the weekly cabinet meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on Nov. 27, 2024.

REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

In France, political push came to shove on Monday, as Prime Minister Michel Barnier moved to ram a controversial pensions finance reform bill through the Assemblée Nationale, France’s lower (but more powerful) house of parliament.

Supporters of the radical right Alliance for Uniting Romanians wave Romanian flags following the first exit polls, at the party’s campaign headquarters, on the day of the parliamentary election, in Bucharest, Romania, on Dec. 1, 2024.
REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis

Romania’s leftist and centrist parties declared victory Monday following Sunday’s election as the ruling Social Democrat party, or PSD, secured 22.4% of the vote. The far right also saw increased support, with the Alliance for Uniting Romanians winning 18.2%, double its 2020 support. Pro-western parties are now expected to form a coalition, but the country still needs to hold its crucial presidential runoff on Dec. 8.

While many investors took a ‘wait-and-see’ approach in the lead up to the election, as the results sets in, investors and businesses are evaluating how recent political shifts will impact market conditions and capital flows in the months ahead. With the election now behind us, will the next administration drive a transaction revival and support new investment opportunities? Analyze election impacts to markets and industries with insights from leading experts on the issues that matter most with Beyond the Ballot, brought to you by RBC Capital Markets.

U.S. President Joe Biden stands with his son Hunter Biden, who earlier in the day was found guilty on all three counts in his criminal gun charges trial, after President Biden arrived at the Delaware Air National Guard Base in New Castle, Delaware, U.S., June 11, 2024.
REUTERS/Anna Rose Layden

After previously promising to allow the justice system to handle Hunter Biden’s federal felony gun and tax convictions, outgoing President Joe Biden instead issued a "full and unconditional pardon" to his son on Sunday.

Rebel factions successfully seized control of the city of Aleppo, Syria, on November 30, 2024, after intense clashes and fierce battles with Assad regime forces.
Photo by Rami Alsayed/NurPhoto

Anti-government forces opposed to Syrian President Bashar Assad launched a shock attack on the largest city, Aleppo, on Saturday.