You may soon be able to pay for meals a new way — with your face
Would you like some eyes with that?
People may soon simply look at a restaurant checkout screen to pay as the novel, biometric technology is becoming increasingly widespread.
One facial ID payment company PopID, is inking more and more deals across the U.S. to introduce this state-of-the-art technology into everyday establishments. Users simply take a selfie to register and then as they look at a camera to verify their identity and transaction, CNBC reported.
The fast food chain Steak ‘N Shake is installing these readers at 300 Midwest locations. Customers only need to take an estimated two or three seconds to check in through PopID. The tech serves as a quicker alternative to opening the restaurant’s app and scanning a QR code.
Elsewhere in Pasadena, California, the state-of-the-art eatery CaliExpress — which uses robots to flip burgers — also implemented a face ID payment mode with PopID.
Experiments with the technology, like when Mastercard teamed up with PopID in Brazil two years ago, were found to be successful. The result of that pilot project saw 76% of users say they would recommend the seemingly efficient technology to a friend.
Last year, Mastercard announced an expansion of the technology to Asian Pacific nations.
“Our focus on biometrics as a secure way to verify identity, replacing the password with the person, is at the heart of our efforts in this area,” Dennis Gamiello a Mastercard executive vice president of identity products and innovation, told CNBC.
Gamiello said more positive reactions have inspired a push to add the technology into other markets this year as well.
However, the sensitive information stored has stirred legal trouble in other cases.
Last month an Illinois woman sued Target over allegations of illegally collecting customer biometrics and four New York T-Mobile stores were also taken to court over anti-theft facial readers.
Amazon was also accused in recent court documents of illegally using employee facial scans as well.
Still, PopID CEO John Miller is predicting a major year in the technology.
His company inked a major, recent deal with JP Morgan for both face and palm readers.
“We believe our partnership with JPMorgan is a watershed moment for biometric payments as it represents the first time a leading merchant acquirer has agreed to push biometric payments to its merchant customers,” he said.
Palm reading tech is something many have more familiarity with stateside.
It has been implemented in all U.S. Whole Foods locations in partnership with Amazon.
“I love it, I have no problem with collecting all my information,” MJ Jervinsky, 47 previously told The Post while shopping at Whole Foods Bryant Park store.
“I don’t care. It’s just a lot easier.”
