In brief
- LG CNS is trialing a new digital currency payment system in one of its internal cafeterias.
- A face scanner equipped with AI software allows employees to pay for lunches without any physical contact.
- Payments are made using a pre-registered, blockchain-based community currency.
LG CNS, an IT arm of South Korean tech giant LG Corporation, has announced today that it’s testing a digital currency payment system using facial recognition in one of its employee cafeterias.
According to the official announcement, the new service combines artificial intelligence (AI), cloud and blockchain technologies, using AI software to recognize customers’ faces. After the customer’s face is scanned, payments for the food ordered are calculated and made automatically using a pre-registered blockchain-based community currency.
Is facial recognition the future of payment?
The company believes that payments based on facial recognition are more convenient than smart tags or QR codes during the coronavirus outbreak, since they can be used without requiring any physical contact.
Currently, only one of the company’s offices is participating in the trial, but LG CNS already plans to expand this service to more of its internal cafeterias and stores.
Earlier in April, LG CNS has also launched an AI-powered facial recognition access system at its Seoul headquarters’ entrance gate.
According to the company, this system can recognize employees’ faces even under protective masks; it can also deny entrance to people who aren’t wearing them properly.