ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CAN PREDICT POLITICAL VIEWS USING FACIAL ANALYSIS, RAISING PRIVACY CONCERNS

Fri 23 June 2023:

AI keeps expanding the horizons of what was previously thought to be possible. It has drawn much attention due to its amazing prediction abilities. The technology has showed an incredible capacity to analyze large volumes of data and produce precise forecasts, from anticipating stock market movements to diagnosing diseases.

Recent research by a group of scientists from Sweden and Denmark raises the possibility that artificial intelligence might be able to predict someone’s political opinions based on their appearance.

The study found that the AI model accurately predicted the political affiliations of people in around 61 per cent of cases.

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As per the research published in the journal Nature, variations in facial expressions were linked to political views. The model concluded that, due to their smiles, “both male and female right-wing composites appeared happier than their left-wing counterparts,” while liberal candidates displayed more neutral expressions.

Women who exhibited a facial expression of contempt — neutral eyes and one corner of the lips lifted — were associated with more liberal politics by the model.

The researchers also observed a correlation between a candidate’s level of attractiveness and their political ideology.

As per Business Insider, women deemed attractive by their beauty scores were predicted to have conservative views, although there was no similar correlation found between men’s attractiveness and right-wing leanings.

“Politicians on the right have been found to be more attractive than those on the left,” states the study.

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The study aimed to demonstrate the privacy threat resulting from the combination of deep learning techniques and easily accessible photographs. For this purpose, the researchers used a dataset of 3,233 images of Danish political candidates and employed facial recognition and predictive analytics to assess facial expressions and attractiveness scores.

The findings raise concerns about how AI can perpetuate stereotypes and biases. AI models trained on preconceived notions of beauty standards and gender can reinforce existing stereotypes, potentially leading to biased outcomes in various domains, including hiring decisions.

“Facial photographs are commonly available to potential employers, and those involved in hiring decisions self-declare a willingness to discriminate based on ideology. Members of the public may thus be aided by recognising what elements of their photographs could affect their chances of employment,” write the researchers.

The study’s findings also shed insight on how views about particular populations may be reinforced by cutting-edge technology like artificial intelligence (AI).

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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