Cantor Technology Lecture: Augmenting Human Expertise

As a fundamental aspect of human interaction, facial recognition is a unique ability that enables us to distinguish between individuals. However, for professionals like facial examiners, the capacity to discern subtle differences between similar faces is a specialized skill. The field of facial identification has undergone significant transformation, driven primarily by advances in biometric technology such artificial intelligence (AI) and the development of facial recognition algorithms.

This talk will delve into the complexities of human face perception, the cognitive processes underlying facial recognition, and the ways in which AI-powered algorithms are enhancing the expertise of human facial examiners, ultimately augmenting their face discrimination ability.

About Dr. Shelina Khalid Jilani

Shelina is a Forensic Expert specializing in the identification and interpretation of the human face within Forensic Facial Identification and Facial Recognition. With over 10 years of experience in the British Legal Sector, she has worked with both the prosecution and defence. A proud alumna of the University of Bradford, she completed her undergraduate, master’s, and PhD studies there. Her doctoral research explored the challenges of ethnicity verification using a bespoke dataset of facial images, combining perspectives from human recognition ability and machine learning. Her research interests continue to focus on facial identification training and the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on facial identification.

Alongside her technical expertise, Shelina is passionate about education and mentorship. She has supported students through programs with the University of California, Berkeley, in partnership with Anglo Educational Services, UK, as well as with the Aziz Foundation in London and the Circle in the Maldives. She now serves as the Facial Image Comparison subgroup lead for the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI).