Kairos Buy Targets More Accurate Facial Recognition

Facial recognition technology firm Kairos has acquired Ireland-based start-up EmotionReader, which analyzes facial expressions in video content. The deal is described as 'multi-million dollar'.

EmotionReader was co-founded by Dr. Stephen Moore (pictured) and Dr. Padraig O'Leary in 2017 and backed by VC fund Enterprise Ireland, but its R&D team is located in Moore's base of Singapore, where Kairos will now consolidate its R&D team with Moore as leader. This will also serve as a platform for an upcoming APAC expansion.

The combined skills of the two firms will address the problem of making face recognition more accurate in real world conditions, working without bias on all races, ethnicities, genders and ages - at present, the firms say, systems are 'inclined to misidentify people of color - specifically when deployed by law enforcement agencies'. The acquisition of EmotionReader 'will undoubtedly improve the integrity of algorithmic identification', according to Kairos.

Moore, who will serve as Chief Scientific Officer in the new set-up, comments: 'EmotionReader's technology is a perfect fit for the Kairos platform. I believe with recent advances in AI and deep learning we're at a tipping point where AI will change the lives of millions of people for the better. Kairos is perfectly placed to make this a reality and do it in a socially responsible way to benefit all'.

Web site: www.kairos.com .