AI-Powered Alternative to Polygraph Emerging out of Israel
December 6, 2021
Will AI eventually replace the polygraph in discerning truth from falsehood? The Times of Israel suggests we may be heading that direction in, “Liar, Liar! ‘Reading’ Faces, Israeli Tech Spots Fibbers with 73% Accuracy.” The emerging technology is the project of a team at Tel Aviv University. Writer Nathan Jeffay reports:
“Israeli scientists say they have found a way to ‘read’ minuscule movements in the face in order to spot fibbers, and have done so with 73 percent accuracy. With highly sensitive electrodes placed to detect the smallest of movements by facial muscles, the researchers got their subjects to either speak truthfully or lie. They fed details on the patterns of those facial movements into an artificial intelligence tool, and taught it to determine whether other people are lying or telling the truth. Now, they are aiming to teach the AI tool to analyze face movements without electrodes. Instead, they want to develop the tech to follow faces in order to determine truthfulness via cameras — which could enable them to spot a liar from dozens of meters away.”
A 73% accuracy rate would leave a lot of room for false accusations. It is considerably smaller than the estimated 87% accuracy rate of polygraph tests (a figure that is itself contested). Researchers promise, however, accuracy will improve as development continues. The approach, we’re told, has a significant advantage over polygraphs, which some subjects can fool by regulating their heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing. Regarding the examination of facial muscles instead, researcher Kino Levy states:
“We knew before now that facial expressions that are manifested by contractions in face muscles represent various emotions. … But up until now when people tried to identify these small movements in face muscles, we can’t do—our brains and our perception aren’t fast or sophisticated enough to pick up these tiny movements in the face. Many studies have shown that it’s almost impossible for us to tell when someone is lying to us. Even experts, such as police interrogators, do only a little better than the rest of us.”
This specially tailored AI, however, can accurately interpret these movements; 73% of the time, anyway. Levy insists his team’s technology will be a game changer. Once they have been able to improve accuracy, of course.
And here’s a question for Israeli companies with specialized software, “Are your systems used to hack American elected officials?”
Cynthia Murrell, December 6, 2021
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