Facial Recognition Technology

Bullets are being sold in a new hell by American vending machines that use facial recognition technology.

“It’s what the founding fathers intended!”

What is the purpose of visiting the vending machine? bubbly drink? Mouth? Is there one or two gunshots?

According to an initial report by the Tuscaloosa Thread in Alabama, an increasing number of supermarkets in Texas, Oklahoma, and Alabama are selling guns through AI-powered vending machines.

The apparatus was manufactured by American Rounds, a Texas-based company. Their website states that their dystopian bullet kiosks have “built-in AI technology” and “facial recognition software,” which allows them to “meticulously verify the identity and age of each buyer.”

As seen in a promotional video, using one is simple: just approach the kiosk, provide identification, and let the camera scan your face. If the machine’s integrated face recognition technology confirms your identity, the automatic system fires a few shots.

And no, they aren’t vending machines. American Rounds describes these as “smart retail automated ammo dispensers.”

The company’s website claims that “our smart retail automated ammo dispensers have built-in AI technology, card scanning capability, and facial recognition software.” As to the website, US Rounds is “at the forefront of retail ammunition technology” and it’s always changing to integrate the newest developments in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

An organisation that embodies the spirit of “don’t tread on me” is utilising controversial monitoring technology in a way that is very American and gives the AI-in-everything trend a unique spin. While there are several safety and ethical issues with the technology, we assume that the first question most people ask is, “Why?”

Convenience, according to American Rounds, is the primary goal. According to the company’s website, its machines are available “24/7,” “ensuring that you can buy ammunition on your schedule, free from the constraints of store hours and long lines.”

Although some people could find this an enticing proposition, others might counter that bullets are merely something that people should perhaps wait in queue for.

Even while it’s very simple to buy guns and ammo in many US states, human employees can refuse sales to anyone for any reason (apart from protected class discrimination, which does occur). Therefore, in situations where a prospective customer exhibits signs of instability or illness, the human intermediary with an instinctive sense may be the sole barrier separating that customer and ammunition.

According to American Rounds, their device can accurately verify someone’s identification and age. However, it appears that the devices are not designed to prevent ammunition from being sold to someone who is mentally ill.

Additionally, American Rounds has not disclosed whose supplier of facial recognition software powers its gadgets.

In light of this, it’s important to remember that facial recognition technology is far from trustworthy; while, in general, algorithms are very excellent at recognising white men in ideal circumstances, the technology is well proven to perform noticeably worse when it comes to identifying women and racial minorities.

Furthermore, the business’s privacy policies have remained quite ambiguous. Despite the CEO of American Rounds, Grant Magers, saying that the company does not sell face recognition data, the company’s website does not have any terms or privacy agreements. Additionally, no message or caution about privacy policies appears to be flashed in any of the several films that are available showing the terminal in operation.

It feels like a big deal because this equipment is meant to scan your ID and face as you make a sensitive purchase!

We have contacted American Rounds regarding its data practices, privacy policies, and facial recognition software supplier; but, we have not heard back.

The current legal status of the devices is still unknown. Representatives from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives informed the Thread that despite the two machines’ location in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, they adhere to all regulations set forth by the organisation.

Newsweek adds that while at least one of the machines has allegedly been removed, the city council is still looking into the machines’ legality.

“It’s what the founding fathers intended!” Walt Maddox, the mayor of Tuscaloosa, poked fun at the Thread.

But Magers counters that his gadgets will only reduce the amount of ammo that is illegally seized and sold to minors. And what is going through his mind? Demand for his bullet ATMs is rising steadily.

The CEO of Newsweek stated that “we currently have over 200 store requests for AARM [Automated Ammo Retail Machine] units covering approximately nine states, and that number is growing daily.”

 

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