Want to catch liars with a microphone? The University of Arizona is developing a voice analysis program that might help you do just that.
What is AVATAR?
The name of this system is AVATAR or Automated Virtual Agent for Truth Assessments in Real-Time. It works through layered voice analysis integrated with artificial intelligence and non-invasive sensors. With these tools, AVATAR can alert users to the presence of suspicious and anomalous behavior.
Non-invasive lie detection is a holy grail for corporations and governments. The ability to detect deception and malice stands to change the ways in which crimes are investigated, employees are hired, and political campaigns are managed.
Beyond Facial Recognition
While some might suggest the use of Facial Recognition Software to identify stress and deception it is important to consider the potentially diminished returns when a program attempts to process too much data.
Facial analysis is wrought with limiting factors which elevate voice analysis as an ideal truth detection method. While facial analysis is limited by the visibility of the subject, the position of the camera, the lighting in the room… Vocal analysis is aural… which enables the non-directional utility of ambient data.
In other words-- do you want to hold a lie detector in front of someone’s face, or would you like for your lie detector to perform passive analysis from your pocket?
Or would you like the microphones to make a noise every time a public speaker attempts to deceive?
The Good with the Bad
A world without deception could certainly improve our present circumstances.
But, some experts, like Doctor Paul Ekman encourage caution: Dr. Ekman refers to critical junctures in world history where political leaders used lies of omission and "lies of commission" to execute critical maneuvers on the world stage.
While tactical deception, the concealment of “sensitive information”, and general privacy concerns present some potential problems with prolific lie detection, this technology will be developed. This will create a new normal. Along with that, a host of ethical debates will force themselves upon developers and the world.
For some cinematic investigations of radical honesty, enjoy these two movies:
Horns and The Invention of Lying.
If you have some great ideas for similar technology as the one described above, remember that the Fast and Furious Fact Check Challenge is closing for submissions in just a few weeks. October 9th is the final day to submit your concept!
