The Download: the Pentagon’s AI-powered lie detector and young organ limits

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. The Pentagon wants $30 million to build an AI-powered lie detector The US government wants to spend $30.3 million over the next five years on an improved lie det…

Résumé

Pentagon's AI lie detector

The U.S.

Department of Defense is requesting $30.3 million over five years to develop an advanced lie detector called Polygraph+ or Polygraph Next.

This system will use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to analyze physiological responses, such as heart rate and breathing patterns, to determine if someone is lying.

Unlike traditional polygraphs that require sensors attached to the body, this system will use standoff sensing, which allows it to take readings from a distance without physical contact.

The goal is to improve accuracy and reliability, but critics argue that AI-powered lie detection combines the flaws of both traditional polygraphs and AI systems, calling it 'the worst of both worlds.' Polygraphs have long been controversial due to concerns about their accuracy and potential for misuse.

The Pentagon's request highlights ongoing efforts to modernize security and interrogation tools, despite skepticism about their effectiveness.