- The Irish startup Everseen is gaining momentum and has just raised 65 million euros
- It offers video surveillance technology which notably makes it possible to better anticipate thefts in stores.
- Its operation is not very clear. More generally, these technologies are the subject of much criticism
It’s not necessarily the most well-known European startup, but the Irish of Everseen are starting to make a name for themselves in a sector of activity that is also very discreet: computer vision. The company has just succeeded in raising 65 million euros in funds which will allow it to perfect and market its technology for merchants. Among its customers: more than half of the 15 largest retailers in the world, and 6,000 stores.
Concretely, the company offers a video surveillance system with cameras connected to computer vision software. The latter analyzes in real time what is happening in a store or warehouse. In particular, it can identify the behavior of a customer and suggest the action of a salesperson towards the latter.
Risks of bias?
But what particularly caught our attention is that this device is supposed to reduce theft. On its website, the company indicates that its cameras can detect suspicious behavior. We can read : “Reducing losses by identifying one of the main methods used for shoplifting at the aisle level”, without further details. We can nevertheless see a video where a client approaches a fruit juice and quickly slips it into her jacket.
Attractive on paper, this system has however experienced failures in the past. In 2020, employees at Walmart where Everseen was used reported that it labeled legitimate behavior as potential theft, and it failed to always stop some real larceny. Subsequently, the system would have been improved, and the American trading giant indicated that this device had worked well overall.
However, and as rightly pointed out by our colleagues from Techcrunch, these technologies are always at risk of bias. For example, if the algorithm has been trained with images of suspicious activity with many people of color, it is more likely to sound the alarm when it sees a black customer. The same goes for people with disabilities who may have an atypical gait compared to able-bodied buyers.
Be that as it may, computer vision seems to have a bright future. France also has one of the champions of this sector with the start-up XXII, which operates in many areas: management of streetlights, fires, abandoned luggage, etc.
The tricolor nugget also caught the eye of the army, and its solution makes it possible to analyze images captured in a specific area in real time, and to identify a target for reconnaissance and intelligence purposes. You can find more information about this company in our dedicated article.
