At a time when the digital landscape is teeming with artificial intelligence, the proliferation of AI-powered platforms has brought both wonder and fear. While many AI-based websites have made significant contributions to social progress, some have a dark side, perpetuating conspiracy theories or manipulating information for sinister purposes. In this spectrum of AI websites, one platform in particular has become famous for its unsettling abilities: PimEyes.
PimEyes is distinguished by its function – it works on the principle of searching for images on the Internet based on the provided photo of an individual. This disturbing but powerful tool offers users the ability to track where their images appear online, a paradoxical dilemma.
Suddenly there are too many Al websites in the modern technological world. There are some really scary websites out there, although most of them have benefited society. Some chatbots have also contributed to the spread of conspiracy theories; some even claimed to be interested in obtaining the nuclear codes. Others have argued that people don’t really care and love each other in an effort to convince people to divorce their spouses. Someone recently created a voice duplicate of Al and showed how it could be used for nefarious purposes to access his bank account. A few personal details were enough.
The most disturbing AI website on the internet.
— Rowan Cheung (@rowancheung) February 28, 2023
Upload a photo of a person, and AI will find ALL of the images of that person across the internet. pic.twitter.com/ac6A1xRxQi
While this Al seems like the perfect place for villainy, there is one Al website that has been deemed the scariest on the internet. For those interested, the website is called PimEyes. This website works by providing them with a photo of you and it searches the entire internet for any photos of you that may be available. This way you can see all the places where your photos are online.
While some people think it would be very beneficial to have control over how their image is used, others call it a stalker’s fantasy. The website displayed several photos of the researcher along with several pictures of people with similar facial characteristics when the researcher decided to use them to determine how legitimate it was.
One example of an Al website that can work both ways is PimEyes.
It’s also really fast – much faster than searching the internet for each of your photos one by one. It’s important to note that the free edition of the site took nearly three seconds to view photos, so one can only speculate how fast the paid version might be. The site could do a much more thorough search and offer links to every place the photos were displayed for a fee; that would make it a really useful tool.
The site is called Pimeyes.
— Rowan Cheung (@rowancheung) February 28, 2023
They use AI for facial recognition combined with reverse image search.
I tested it myself and was shocked by the speed and accuracy. Super creepy. pic.twitter.com/u3vE9gCO7R
Al’s website received praise from a Twitter user who said: “I like PimEyes. Although this technology is divisive, it is among the best at determining who has used my face without permission. I will then send out a takedown notice.” However, another commenter said: “This is a stalker’s dream.” Many others agreed that this would be a really useful and appreciated method of using the internet. Another person reinforced this idea by uploading a photo of themselves when they were younger, and the website correctly recognized each of them as an adult. Several users have also reported that law enforcement agencies may find this website very useful when they receive complaints about missing children. However, others have realized that the technology can be used in a completely different way.
One Twitter user said she recently submitted a photo of herself and Al’s website used it to find a photo of her from when she was ten years old. It’s interesting to note that although the site allows users to avoid showing up in other people’s searches, they’ll still need a scan of your ID or passport to confirm it’s you.
The efficiency and speed of PimEyes’ search function, even in its free iteration, raises questions about the capabilities of its paid version and the complex nature of its searches. While some applaud its potential in identifying unauthorized use of images and aiding law enforcement in missing persons cases, others highlight the eerie accuracy of image recognition, even from past childhood photos.
The mixed reactions to PimEyes illustrate the complexity of balancing the benefits of technology with ethical concerns. The platform’s ability to use personal image data prompts privacy scrutiny, especially with regard to the need to provide official identification to access certain features.
In the world of AI-driven websites, PimEyes exemplifies the dichotomy between technological innovation and ethical considerations. It serves as a stark reminder of the need for strong regulations and protection for users as they move through the evolving digital space, where control over personal data and images is critical to privacy and security.