
The world’s most valuable AI startup helps China spy on its citizens
SenseTime builds surveillance databases for local governments… and software for selfie apps
Who are SenseTime?

So what do they do?
It’s no secret that China wants to become a world leader in AI -- and use the powerful technology to track its citizens. SenseTime’s services can help exactly with that.
Want to scan faces in a surveillance video? How about matching individuals in a large database of faces, or figuring out a person’s gender, ethnicity and age? SenseTime says it can do all of that.
Who are their clients?
A similar system deployed by the Public Security Department of Yunnan, a southwestern province, claims to help authorities “crack down on terrorist activities” and potentially “prevent acts that endanger public security”.

What about privacy?

Software for surveillance… and selfies?
Beyond selfies, Chinese retail giant Suning is using their technology to develop cashierless stores, allowing shoppers to grab what they need without stopping to pay.
Next stop: The United States
(Abacus is a unit of the South China Morning Post, which is owned by Alibaba -- an investor of SenseTime.)
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