Main content

The Curious Face Off

Are machines better than humans at identifying faces? Rutherford and Fry are on the case.

"Are machines better than humans at identifying faces?" asks the excellently named Carl Vandal.

Today's Face Off leads our intrepid detectives to investigate why we see Jesus on toast, Hitler in houses and Kate Middleton on a jelly bean.

Face perception psychologist Rob Jenkins from the University of York explains why we're so good at spotting familiar faces, like celebrities. Plus, Franziska Knolle from the University of Cambridge discusses her face recognition study involving Barack Obama and a group of highly-trained sheep.

But are we outwitted by artificial intelligence when it comes to face ID? 麻豆社 technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones gives us the low-down on the pros and cons of current technology.

Presenters: Hannah Fry, Adam Rutherford
Producer: Michelle Martin.

Available now

26 minutes

Broadcast

  • Thu 11 Jan 2018 12:04

Why do you see faces in unexpected places?

We are 鈥渉ardwired鈥 for recognising faces and it starts at birth.

Podcast