Rentokil Pilots Facial Recognition System as Way to Exterminate Rats

U.K. pest control services provider Rentokil is testing facial recognition software developed alongside U.K. telecommunications company Vodafone as a tool for rat extermination.

The surveillance technology tracks rats' behavior in the home, using artificial intelligence (AI) to stream real-time analysis; a central command center can then help to decide where and how to kill the camera-imaged rodents.

Rentokil observed rats' behaviors in a controlled environment with cameras, while AI-driven machine learning facilitated recognition.

Rentokil's Andy Ransom said the company gained access to "significant technology" with its acquisition of Israeli pest control firm Eitan Amichai.

Customers including food producers and offices are testing the facial recognition tool, while Rentokil is targeting "cities of the future" in countries whose pest populations could spike soon.

From The Guardian (U.K.)
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