News

Study shows facial recognition misfires with dark-skinned people

It’s most accurate with white men

Published

February 12, 2018

Luigi Leonardo

Artificial intelligence is only still emerging, but pundits are already decrying how it will soon outsmart mankind. Amid these warnings, AI has yet to overcome a very human prejudice — skin bias.

Recent studies show that AI-powered facial recognition works more accurately with certain skin tones and genders compared to others. MIT researchers Joy Buolamwini and Timnit Gebru recently conducted experiments that tested the accuracy of modern facial recognition.

The experiment compiled 1,270 different facial images from three African countries and three Northern European countries. The difference creates an equal parity between dark-skinned and light-skinned individuals. The test used AI tech from Microsoft and IBM.

The results showed that facial recognition worked better with lighter skin tones rather than darker ones: 11.8 percent error rate for lighter skins versus 19.2 percent for darker skins (the lower the percentage, the better). Further, it shows that the tech performed better with males than females: 8.1 percent for males versus 20.6 percent for females.

As you might expect, males with light skin tones fared way better than females with dark skin tones: 0.3 percent versus a whopping 34.7 percent.

Despite the rigor of their study, the researchers quickly pointed out that there were some AI developers (like Google) who did not want to be included.

Also, they add that accuracy might depend on where the tech was developed. For example, AI recognition developed in Asia might recognize Asian faces more accurately than Caucasian ones.

One study isn’t enough to put down the entire AI industry. The tech is still constantly improving itself. Soon, developers will likely bring error rates down to zero.

However, its current inaccurate state is a warning for those who use AI facial recognition for security and law enforcement.

Right now, facial recognition is most prevalent just in selfie cameras. However, some companies are already adopting the tech to bolster their security by scanning the faces of bad guys. If the current trends continue, your badly shot selfie might incriminate you for a crime you didn’t commit.

News

Apple reportedly gives up on the Vision Pro

But Apple will continue to sell the current model.

Published

April 30, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

When they unveiled the Vision Pro in 2023, Apple touted the wearable as the next big thing after the iPhone. Now, almost three years removed from the launch, the Vision Pro hasn’t really taken over the coveted spot occupied by the iPhone. Apple, according to a report, is allegedly canning the short-lived wearable.

According to MacRumors, Apple has reportedly given up on making the Vision Pro a thing. The team handling the wearable has supposedly been subsumed by other teams within Apple.

If true, the wearable’s end is unfortunate but not surprising. Despite being out for years, the Vision Pro has sold only a little more than half a million units with numerous returns from customers. Most recently, Apple updated the wearable with the M5 chip, but the move hasn’t revitalized the device’s status in Apple’s lineup.

Most of the complaints about the device stem from its exorbitant price or its cumbersome battery pack. Besides costing a whopping US$ 3,499, the Vision Pro is also difficult to move around with, especially because of its total weight and a battery pack that can get in the way.

To be clear, Apple has not officially discontinued the Vision Pro yet. The company continues to sell the version with the M5 chip. Apple can also restart development in the future.

However, the meantime retirement on future development does coincide with the recent restructuring inside the company. Tim Cook recently decided to step down as CEO with John Ternus as his replacement. Canning the Vision Pro might be Ternus’ first step in redefining Apple according to his plans.

Apps

YouTube makes picture-in-picture mode free for everyone globally

The update is rolling out globally now.

Published

April 30, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Picture-in-picture (or PiP) mode is a godsend for multitaskers. The feature lets users watch videos in a tiny floating window while doing other tasks. However, the feature isn’t readily available for all users. Or wasn’t, at least. YouTube is now rolling out PiP mode for free globally.

Previously, PiP mode was exclusive to YouTube users who pay for Premium or Premium Lite. It was also exclusive to the United States.

Now, YouTube is making the feature completely free for users all over the globe. It will be available for both iOS and Android versions of the app.

There’s still a catch, though. The free version is available only for “longform, non-music content.” The same goes for Premium Lite subscribers. Music is still an exclusive feature for those who pay for the regular version of Premium. Basically, there is no change for paying users or users in the United States.

Using PiP mode is simple. All you need to do is load up a video you want to watch in the background. Then, just exit the YouTube app and go about your other tasks. The video will be inside a floating, resizable window while you look at other things.

There’s no timeline on when the update will reach your device. However, YouTube has promised that it will roll out globally within the coming months.

Enterprise

OnePlus has reportedly merged with realme

Both brands were previously rumored for restructuring early this year.

Published

April 30, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

OnePlus has a problem. For a while now, rumors have swirled about the company’s dissolution. For their part, the company has continued to deny the reports, citing business as usual. Likely to their dismay, the reports just keep coming. Today, sources have hinted that OnePlus has merged with realme.

Back in January, it was rumored that OnePlus would be closing up shop this year. Since the company very quickly denied the rumors, the report hardly made waves. However, a suspected merger with realme is more difficult to debunk.

For one, realme is itself in a very interesting position. Also back in January, realme was reportedly moving back into being a sub-brand of OPPO. Coupled together with the OnePlus debacle, all this internal restructuring seems par for the course.

According to Digital Chat Station on Weibo, OnePlus and realme have already concluded the merger. The two brands have reportedly united their Chinese and international operations under one roof. Likewise, their marketing will be the same. Pete Lau will still be the main head for this new division.

As with anything of this nature, take this with a grain of salt. OPPO, OnePlus, and realme have not issued any official statements concerning a merger or a shutdown for any brand.