Google Photos raises the bar: facial recognition can now identify people from behind

Although some of us were disappointed by Google Photos’ decision to remove unlimited storage, we cannot overlook the fact that it remains unrivaled in its sector. Despite being a free service, the so-called “betrayal” left a lasting impact.

Google offers a range of advanced capabilities through its artificial intelligence technology, which enables us to organize our photos by identifying individuals and even pets. Recently, Google has taken this a step further by enhancing its facial recognition algorithm to recognize individuals in photos, even if they are facing away from the camera.

Google Photos now recognizes you even when your back is turned

Recently, Rita El Khoury over at Android Authority tested out the new feature and was pleasantly surprised with the results. El Khoury reported that around eighty-five percent of the photos without a clear face were recognized by the algorithm. The update enables the software to recognize people’s faces from the back and accurately label them with their correct names. It’s worth noting that this feature is retroactive, meaning that even older photos where the subject’s back is visible can now be correctly labeled with the person’s name.

However, we attempted to check and see if the new update was available, and so far, nothing seemed to change. This indicates that Google is continuing the rollout of the new feature. Though, some updates have been made, including those related to the identification of people wearing masks or sunglasses.

Android Authority has a theory that suggests Google’s technology can construct a detailed model of your head by using videos as well as partial and complete photos. This allows it to create a map that can recognize you even if you are facing away from the camera. Essentially, having more photos of yourself makes it easier for Google Photos to identify you, even if your face is not visible.