Amazon Rolls Out AI-Powered Facial Recognition on Ring Video Doorbells

Amazon's Ring has rolled out a new AI-powered facial-recognition feature, dubbed Familiar Faces, to its video doorbells in the United States. The feature, announced in September, allows users to identify regular visitors by creating a catalog of up to 50 faces, which can include family members, friends, neighbors, delivery drivers, and household staff. Once a person is labeled in the Ring app, the device will recognize them as they approach the camera, sending a personalized notification, such as "Mom at Front Door," instead of a generic alert. According to Amazon, the feature is designed to help users disable unwanted alerts, such as those referencing their own comings and goings. Users can set these alerts on a per-face basis, allowing them to customize their notifications. However, the feature has already received pushback from consumer protection organizations, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), and a U.S. senator. Amazon claims that the Familiar Faces feature is a useful tool for users who want to streamline their notifications and focus on the people who matter most. "We're excited to bring this feature to our customers, who can now use it to identify and label the people they care about," said an Amazon spokesperson. "This feature is designed to make our customers' lives easier and more convenient." The use of facial recognition technology has been a topic of debate in recent years, with concerns about privacy, bias, and surveillance. The EFF has expressed concerns about the potential for misuse of the technology, particularly in the context of law enforcement. "Facial recognition technology is a powerful tool that can be used to track and monitor individuals, and we're concerned that Ring's feature could be used to further erode our right to privacy," said an EFF spokesperson. Ring's Familiar Faces feature is the latest development in the company's push to integrate AI-powered technology into its products. In 2020, Ring launched a feature that allowed users to identify and label pets, and the company has also explored the use of AI-powered video analytics to detect suspicious activity. The rollout of the Familiar Faces feature has sparked a wider conversation about the implications of facial recognition technology in the home. As the use of AI-powered devices becomes increasingly common, experts are warning about the potential risks of surveillance and data collection. "We need to have a more nuanced conversation about the use of facial recognition technology in the home, and the potential consequences for our privacy and security," said a cybersecurity expert. Amazon's Ring has not yet announced a timeline for the rollout of the Familiar Faces feature to international markets. However, the company has stated that it plans to continue developing and improving its AI-powered features in the coming months. As the use of facial recognition technology continues to evolve, experts and consumers alike will be watching closely to see how these developments impact our daily lives.