How Artificial Intelligence Is Being Used to Stop Shoplifters
Revolutionizing Retail Security with AI-Powered Shoplifting Prevention Systems
Did you know that almost 20% of reported thefts in America are shoplifting cases, and that as high as 11% of the population has shoplifted? This makes shoplifting a common crime and a scourge to businesses.
With its ever-growing list of capabilities, it should come as no surprise that artificial intelligence is being used to curb shoplifting with some intelligence technology. Keep reading to learn how AI is being used to help prevent shoplifting and how that same technology can be applied to other crime areas.
AI Security Cameras by Japanese Company
Using machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) technology, the Japanese company Vaak has developed a security camera system that’s capable of detecting shoplifting before it ever takes place.
What’s more, Vaak’s security systems can be configured to stream footage directly to business managers’ mobiles and laptops, allowing them to swiftly act on shoplifting incidents.
Vaak claims that its AI security system technology not only reduces shoplifting, but also encourages efficient management, reduces product hoarding, and offers insightful user analysis.
How AI Tech Works to Prevent Shoplifting
This Japanese technology can detect over 100 points of reference when identifying potential criminals and harmful behavior. These include:
Surrounding objects
Movement
Behavior (fidgeting, restless, relaxed, etc.)
Relationship with other humans
Facial expressions
Clothing recognition
Using these points of reference and large volumes of data, Vaak security systems are able to predict customers' future actions. This makes it possible to accurately identify people most likely to shoplift products.
Especially useful for shop owners, this technology can also be utilized to recognize repeat customers and understand their favorite items for upselling opportunities. This is similar to how McDonald’s uses ML technology to increase drive-thru sales with personalized experiences.
Read our article on McDonald’s use of ML technology.
Case Study: PAL Group Holdings
PAL Group Holdings is a Japanese retail company that operates several stores and maintains many brands, such as BONbazaar and Beardsley.
Vaak security technology was installed in approximately 1,000 PAL Group stores, with between four to eight cameras implemented in each. After three months of use, PAL Group Holdings were able to reduce product losses by 80%.
The systems gave store employees and managers a sense of security and control, thanks to the effects of Vaak’s camera systems. Vaak also sends weekly surveillance reports for managers to review, increasing awareness of in-store crimes.
Vaak aims to collect sufficient data from this test case in order to divide stores into categories and build optimized systems for each type of retail outlet.
Additional Applications of AI Surveillance Technology
This impressive technology created by Vaak is not limited to retail store surveillance. Vaak also offers manufacturing, office, and real estate surveillance as additional use cases.
Here are a few more applications we thought up in the AI Business Report that might spark your interest.
Traffic Safety: AI-driven surveillance technology could be used to monitor roads and areas of high traffic to detect unsafe drivers and log their license plates.
Criminal Tracking: Using facial recognition, Vaak’s technology can be used to track criminals with warrants out for their arrest by picking up their identity in places using the technology.
Terrorism: By tracking behavior based on previous data, Vaak’s technology could be used to identify potential terrorists in public areas and large crowds.
This is a non-exhaustive list and shows the versatility of just one type of artificial intelligence.
How would you use Vac’s surveillance technology?
Ethical Concerns
It’s estimated that 54% of surveillance cameras in operation are located in China. By most ethical standards, this is an enormous over-surveillance. Extreme surveillance is slowly finding its way into American businesses, with a 50% increase in surveillance camera installations between 2015 and 2018.
Intelligent and effective surveillance may initially appear as a force for good in curbing crime, but according to Harvard Law Review, the knock-on effects include creating a culture of threat and suspicion, coercion, blackmail, and discrimination.
For example, if one particular race of a person is more likely to shoplift than another, AI surveillance systems may incorrectly flag them as suspicious based on previously collected data, ultimately leading to false accusations.
It’s important to note that, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, racial profiling is an ineffective policing technique that targets innocent individuals unfairly. What’s more, since 2003, racial profiling has been forbidden under federal law.
Will This AI Technology Deter Criminals?
According to the HAL Group Holdings case study, it seems clear that Vaak’s technology has the potential to deter criminals. However, with the above-discussed ethical concerns shadowing the technology, it’s unlikely it will be imported from Japan to America.
Despite this, it’s still possible for American tech companies to take inspiration from Vaak’s technology. For example, AI-driven surveillance systems can be used to monitor unmanned remote stations and high-security government buildings. In fact, AI technology is already being used to a lesser degree in smart doorbell systems, such as Ring.
With some creative thinking, ethical considerations, and technical knowhow, AI-driven surveillance technology is an innovative force.
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