After previous rumors that Apple Inc. will be applying high-end facial recognition in its upcoming flagship phones, a new report suggests the clear possibility of unlocking future iPhone through selfies after recent acquisition of the AI-based facial recognition company RealFace.
According to Hebrew-language site Calcalist, the Cupertino-based tech giant has bought the Israeli startup company Real Face, which specializes in extensive learning for face authentication technology.
The Real Face company, formed in 2014, was recently acquired for $2 million, or "around a couple of million dollars," as noted by the Calcalist. However, no further details on the terms of the deal were revealed by Apple Inc.
The future features for this hardware will provide iPhones frictionless face recognition. The "Real Face" company aims to replace passwords or logins using facial recognition, while keeping its mission to "offer customers a smart biometric log-in solution" for mobile consumption.
As of press time, the RealFace's website is down, which could be by demand or intentional removal by the company itself or Apple. Before the acquisition, the company had previously raised $1 million in start-up funds, which was used by 5 to 10 employees.
The company's first app Pickeez choose the best photos in the user's photo gallery for smarter categorization. Now, both the company's ties may include facial recognition in Apple's upcoming iPhone lineup. According to Apple Insider, the iPhone 8 and other future iPhone models may be armed with a face scanning feature powered by a laser 3D scanner.
The facial recognition software produced by RealFace can also tap other user experience actions and functionality features, such as the technology in augmented reality and virtual reality headsets, clothing sizing, accurate distance measurements for home improvement, scanning for 3D printing, appliance and HomeKit integration.
Apple appears to continue gearing up its future iPhone hardware and software features, as Real Face turned to be the third facial recognition-related company the Cupertino-based tech giant has acquired in the last two years.
According to NDTV, Apple purchased the AI-based startup Emotient earlier this year. Based on the report, this technology "uses software to read the expressions of individuals and crowds to gain insights that can be used by advertisers to assess viewer reaction or a medical practitioner to better understand signs of pain in patients."