AI Software Can Catch Shoplifters Before They Steal 智能軟件不等下手就能識別偷竊者

在湯姆·克魯斯主演的電影《少數派報告》中，警方利用超能力人預知犯罪的發生，并提前逮捕罪犯。這種科幻情節如今已經接近現實。

A Japanese tech startup claims to have developed an artificial intelligence software that analyzes surveillance camera footage in order to detect suspicious behavior and prevent shoplifting before it actually happens.

In 2002， when the movie Minority Report， starring Tom Cruise， came out， the concept of preventing a future crime was nothing more than a cool sci-fi idea， but thanks to the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence， we already have an early version of the technology displayed in that movie.

VaakEye， an AI software developed by Japanese startup Vaak， can allegedly detect shoplifting before it occurs by analyzing surveillance camera footage for discrete suspicious movements and behaviors of people caught in the cameras field of view. If the algorithm decides that there is a high-enough probability of a person shoplifting， it sends an alert via a smartphone app so the crime can be prevented.

VaakEye first made news headlines back in December 2018 when it picked up on previously undetected shoplifting activity at a convenience store in Yokohama.

“I thought then， ‘Ah， at last！” Vaak founder Ryo Tanaka recalled about the first time VaakEye helped detect shoplifting intentions. “We took an important step closer to a society where crime can be prevented with AI.”

VaakEye is based on a complex algorithm that harnesses deep learning from more than 100，000 hours of surveillance footage and analyzes over 100 different factors， from a persons face， clothes， movement， overall behavior， to macro-data like crime incidence in the area the shop is located in， or current weather conditions.

This new shoplifting-prevention software has reportedly helped detect at least 7 shoplifters in tests performed as of December 12th last year， and is credited with reducing shoplifting cases by 75%， according to IT Media.

However， VaakEye is not intended to help police catch shoplifters after theyve committed the crime， but rather help business owners prevent the crime from being committed. Theoretically， shop staff can approach suspicious subjects after receiving an alert from the software and ask if they need some help. This should discourage suspected shoplifters from going ahead with their plans.

日本一家科技初創企業聲稱研發出了一款人工智能軟件。該軟件能夠通過分析監控攝像頭拍下的視頻畫面識別出可疑行為，在小偷下手前就對其加以阻止。

2002年，湯姆·克魯斯主演的電影《少數派報告》上映，當時預知犯罪不過是個科幻概念，但隨著人工智能的迅猛發展，如今電影中展現的技術在現實中已經初見雛形。

日本初創企業Vaak研發的軟件VaakEye據稱可以通過分析監控范圍內攝像頭拍下的視頻中不連續的可疑動作和行為，在盜竊行為發生前，對其進行識別。如果算法認定某個人偷竊的可能性足夠高，就會通過智能手機應用發送警報以阻止犯罪。

VaakEye首次登上新聞頭條是在2018年12月，當時該軟件在橫濱的一家便利店發現了此前未被察覺到的偷竊行為。

Vaak公司的創始人田中亮回憶起VaakEye軟件第一次幫助識別偷竊意圖時說道：“我那時候想，終于做到了！我們距離用人工智能預防犯罪的社會又近了一大步。”

VaakEye軟件基于一種復雜算法，該算法對超10萬個小時的監控視頻進行了深度學習，分析了100多種不同因素，從一個人的臉、服裝、動作、整體行為，到商店所在地區的犯罪率或當下天氣條件等宏觀數據。

據IT Media報道，截至2018年12月12日的測試期間，這款新的防盜軟件已經幫助識別出至少7名小偷，并使盜竊案數量降低了75%。

但是，VaakEye軟件的目的不是為了在小偷盜竊后幫助警察抓住罪犯，而是幫助店主防止盜竊發生。從理論上來講，店主可以在軟件上收到警報后接近可疑人員并詢問他們是否需要幫助。這樣應該可以阻止嫌疑人繼續實施犯罪計劃。

Word Study

rapid /'r?p?d/ adj. 迅速的;快速的

The disease is spreading at a rapid rate.

recall /r?'k??l/ v. 記憶起;回想起

He recalled that she always came home late on Wednesdays.

complex /'k?mpleks/ adj. 復雜的;費解的

We have language and use it to express complex ideas.

commit /k?'m?t/ v.犯（罪或錯等）

I dont believe that only tough guys commit crimes.