IBM Does an About-Face on Facial Recognition Technology: Business Casual

Powered by RedCircle

On this Business Casual snippet, Tyler Kern, Taylor Bagley and Daniel Litwin discuss an announcement made my IBM on June 8th regarding the tech giant’s intention to stop offering facial recognition software for “mass surveillance or racial profiling”.

In 2019, a study conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that none of the facial recognition tools from Microsoft, Amazon and IBM were 100% accurate when it came to recognizing men and women with dark skin. Further, a study from the US National Institute of Standards and Technology suggested facial recognition algorithms were far less accurate at identifying African-American and Asian faces compared with Caucasian ones. In a world currently riding the shockwaves of social unrest and protests calling for police reform in the wake of George Floyd’s death while being apprehended by officers in Minneapolis, this technological bias in gear provided to policing organizations has definitely been put under the microscope.

In support of IBMs move to abandon ‘biased’ facial recognition tech, Chief Executive Arvind Krishna, stated, “We believe now is the time to begin a national dialogue on whether and how facial recognition technology should be employed by domestic law enforcement agencies”.

As the first major company to back out of a technology largely used by law enforcement, the Business Casual dynamic duo break down Krishna’s letter to congress urging action against police malfeasance as well as more regulation on how law enforcement uses facial recognition technology, two different studies of Amazon’s facial recognition system by the ACLU which resulted in both Congress members and professional athletes being falsely matched with images of those in a mugshot database, whether IBM’s decision was based solely on current racially-charged events or just part of an ongoing massive restructuring within the company, and much more.

Bringing thought leadership to your day, MarketScale’s Business Casual keeps you current with technology leaps both forward and backward, the hottest topics and the newest trends shaping business and our world today. And for the latest thought leadership, news and event coverage across B2B, be sure to check out our industry pages.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!
Twitter – @MarketScale
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

Stephanie Simon
Through the Storm with USMC Captain, Professional Boxer, and TrailBlazer, Stephanie Simon
March 7, 2025

Captain Stephanie Simon (USMC) is currently a professional boxer (2-0), a boxing instructor, and a Marine Corps reservist. She is the 2024 Olympic Trials Boxing Champion, 4x Elite National Boxing Champion, 3x National Collegiate Boxing Champion, and United States Marine Corps Boxing Hall of Famer. Stephanie Simon is originally from Atlanta, GA, grew up…

Read More
Lind
The DisruptED World of Manufacturing and Design at Lind with Anders Dellson
March 6, 2025

Electric surfboards are redefining water sports, merging high-performance engineering with artistry in product design. The industry, once niche, is now accelerating thanks to advancements in e-mobility and battery technology. With increasing consumer interest in high-end, sustainable recreational vehicles, companies like Lind are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. In fact, Lind’s electric surfboards boast…

Read More
verizon business assistant
Boost Customer Satisfaction with Verizon Business Assistant
March 6, 2025

Keeping customers happy is crucial for any business, but managing interactions can be overwhelming. Enter Verizon Business Assistant, an AI-powered service designed to streamline customer communication using a simple yet effective tool — text messages. Unlike traditional chatbots, Verizon Business Assistant learns the ins and outs of your business, answering top customer questions with speed…

Read More
Email Marketing
The Science of Email Success: Secrets to Higher Open and Conversion Rates
March 6, 2025

Email marketing is often underestimated, yet it remains one of the most powerful tools for businesses to engage with their audience. Research shows that for every $1 spent on email marketing, an average return of $42 is expected. However, many professionals misunderstand what email can truly accomplish and fail to harness its full potential….

Read More