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Like by smiling? Facebook acquires emotion detection startup FacioMetrics


Facebook could one day build facial gesture controls for its app thanks to the acquisition of a Carnegie Mellon University spinoff company called FacioMetrics. The startup made an app called Intraface that could detect seven different emotions in people's faces, but it's been removed from the app stores. The acquisition aligns with a surprising nugget of information Facebook slipped into a 32-bullet point briefing sent to TechCrunch this month. "Future applications of deep learning platform on mobile: Gesture-based controls, recognize facial expressions and perform related actions" It's not hard to imagine Facebook one day employing FacioMetrics' tech and its own AI to let you add a Like or one of its Wow/Haha/Angry/Sad emoji reactions by showing that emotion with your face. "How people share and communicate is changing and things like masks and other effects allow people to express themselves in fun and creative ways.