CeBIT 2015: Alibaba unveils ‘smile-to-pay’ tech that allows mobile shoppers to replace passwords with selfies

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba is developing facial recognition technology that enables mobile shoppers to replace their passwords with selfies. The technology is being developed by Alibaba’s Ant Financial unit for use with the Alipay Wallet and online payment service, although details of when it will be rolled out to users have not been given.

As the smartphone increasingly becomes the digital tool of choice for the average Chinese, e-commerce giant Alibaba Group has been pushing the development of several technologies that make it easier and more secure to shop using mobile devices. During the March 15 opening ceremony for CeBIT, the annual I.T. and business expo in Hannover, Germany, Alibaba Executive Chairman Jack Ma demoed what might be a mobile-tech match made in heaven: selfies and online-payment security.

„Online payment to buy things is always a big headache,” Ma said in a Steve Jobs-like „one more thing” moment following his keynote speech. „You forget your password, you worry about the securities … today we show you a new technology in the future how people can buy things online.”

It’s face recognition software via smartphone, and you can see how it works by watching the video of Alibaba at CeBIT below.

Ma pulled out his phone and bought a stamp from the Alibaba site, scanning his face with the handset’s camera to confirm the purchase before promising that it would arrive at the office of Hannover’s mayor within six days.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nyu_T6eN0wU&width=500&height=350