Key background
The feature arrives amid a broader account-security push from Google that has so far included fake-call detection against AI scams in June and the suing of a Chinese cybercrime operation that used AI to defraud hundreds of thousands of victims, according to TechCrunch. It’s also a major expansion of biometric account recovery, which has been a contested space: Apple has offered Face ID-based authentication since 2017, while Microsoft expanded Windows Hello facial recognition to account recovery workflows years ago. While it can be used as a regular sign-in, Google is largely positioning the selfie as a backup option specifically for lockout scenarios—the gap where users lose their phone or can’t access their usual device.
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TANGENT
The timing of the new feature is notable: Google’s parent company Alphabet just reported second-quarter Google Cloud revenue of $24.77 billion, up 82% year-over-year, with CEO Sundar Pichai noting that nearly 90% of the Fortune 100 now use Gemini Enterprise, Google’s AI suites for businesses. The company on Wednesday said its Gemini app now has 950 million monthly active users.
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further reading
Forbes950 Million People Now Use Gemini Each Month As Alphabet Posts Earnings BeatBy Ty Roush
ForbesAlphabet Rally Boosts Google Cofounder Fortunes By $15 Billion—Here’s Why Shares Are UpBy Ty Roush