AI Facial Profiling, Levels of Paranoia

AI Facial Profiling, Levels of Paranoia / Marta Revuelta, Laurent Weingart - Photo: Sandra Pointet

Theme Exhibition

Exhibit

AI Facial Profiling, Levels of Paranoia

Marta Revuelta (ES/CH), Laurent Weingart (CH)

In today’s digital age, biometric surveillance systems powered by AI are becoming increasingly common. AI companies claim their systems can analyze a person’s facial features to predict subtle patterns of so-called “suspect” personality types.
Inspired by psychometric research that purports to detect criminal potential from a single photograph—and drawing from the world of firearms—we present a “physiognomic machine”: A computer vision and pattern recognition system that assesses an individual’s ability to handle firearms and predicts their threat level through biometric facial analysis. The device features a weaponized camera and an AI-driven mechanical system that classifies individuals into two categories: high-risk threats and lower-risk subjects.
Situated between fiction and reality, the installation simulates a security protocol experience. It uses the individual as a point of departure for a critical examination of algorithmic bias, challenging the trust and legitimacy we place in so-called intelligent systems.

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  • Performance: AI Facial Profiling, Levels of Paranoia

    Marta Revuelta (ES/CH), Laurent Weingart (CH)

    An AI-powered physiognomic machine analyzes your face to assess your potential threat level. Inspired by real-world security protocols and biased algorithms, this interactive installation critically questions the legitimacy of machine-driven decision-making.

  • Portrait captured by AI thermal camera system, Photo: autonomous targesystem

    Marta Revuelta

    Marta Revuelta is a Geneva-based media artist and interaction designer. Her work explores AI in security, surveillance, and defense systems, focusing on algorithmic bias and techno-military ecologies. Merging art, design, and engineering, she creates critical installations that question machine-made decisions.

Credits

AI Facial Profiling, Levels of Paranoia, 2018–2020 | By Marta Revuelta | In collaboration with Laurent Weingart, AI and cybersecurity engineer, and Marc Wettstein, mechatronics engineer.

Presented with the kind support of the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia.