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Al Rukh

macrumors 65816
Nov 15, 2017
1,148
1,283
I wouldn’t sleep on the machine learning component part of Face ID. I have added an excerpt from Apple, on Face ID:

“Face ID automatically adapts to changes in your appearance, such as wearing cosmetic makeup or growing facial hair. If there is a more significant change in your appearance, like shaving a full beard, Face ID confirms your identity by using your passcode before it updates your face data.”

Edit: The take home message is, Face ID never stops “learning” how your face changes, intentionally (like wearing masks).

Of course, wearing surgical masks would have a lower rate of success because of the irregular contours from the folds of the masks. Cloth masks generally sits on the face tightly, taking the shape of the original face you scanned during setting up Face ID.
 
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DanTSX

Suspended
Oct 22, 2013
1,111
1,505
That doesn’t confirm machine learning (“learning” new facial features sounds like a sci fi exploit waiting to happen by slowly changing some guy’s face to unlock a slowly learning facial recognition device)

Let’s apply the razor....

I suspect (zero evidence) that the authentication process is simply rejecting parts of the face that it recognizes as unreadable, and weighs the readable parts of the face at a higher level than if it doesn’t see an unreadable masked zone(s) of the topography. ML is certainly within Apple’s ability here, but why bother if the existing technology may be quickly adapted to address the needs of everyone forced into wearing face napkins? (Full disclosure, I wear my mask and wash my hands like a good boy)

ALso don’t forget that masks make your ears stick out, so there is more to measure 🤪
 
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Abazigal

Contributor
Jul 18, 2011
20,387
23,873
Singapore
My friend reports being able to unlock his iPhone 11 when he is wearing a mask. Oddly, I have never gotten this to work with my iPad Pro, so it’s the passcode for me every time.

Maybe it needs an A13 chip or later?
 

Al Rukh

macrumors 65816
Nov 15, 2017
1,148
1,283
Hallelujah. My 12 Pro Max just learned my face with a mask cover literally as I am sitting on a train so it took about 1 months to learn it. Works 100% now
One month sounds about right. Enjoy the convenience!
 

russell_314

macrumors 604
Feb 10, 2019
6,651
10,241
USA
I don’t think it’s machine learning at all. I think it seeing through the mask with IR. This is why sometimes it doesn’t work because the mask is blocking it.
 

Bix123

macrumors newbie
Dec 28, 2020
3
0
NY
I don't know how or why, but since today my iphone when i unlocked it with face ID with a mask on, it works. I have restarted it many times thinking that this is a bug, but not, it sitll works. For your information, i have an iphone 12, and ios 14.2 (ios 14.3 beta not installed)

Have you experienced the same or its an issue in mine? This is the update what we have been waiting for or only a buggy security system?
I am using Iphone 12 pro max and running Ios 14.3(latest). Same thing happening on my phone since today only. I updated it a week before I guess, so its definitely not an update. I talked with apple support and they are unsure about it. They said “It may be picking up enough data from your Face to make the authentication. Or even with the Mask, the shape of your face is getting picked up. I personally grew out my Beard and its never given me an issue with FaceID and I set it up when I didn't have one. “ lol.
 

bushman4

macrumors 601
Mar 22, 2011
4,141
3,893
With the pandemic it’s necessary to have both Face ID and underscreen Touch ID
APPLE couldn’t do it in the 12 but there’s no excuse for not having it in iPhone 13. Wearing a mask will continue for a while
 

The Game 161

macrumors Nehalem
Dec 15, 2010
30,968
20,166
UK
With the pandemic it’s necessary to have both Face ID and underscreen Touch ID
APPLE couldn’t do it in the 12 but there’s no excuse for not having it in iPhone 13. Wearing a mask will continue for a while
it will likely will be in the 13 but I bet pro models only.
 

MiamiBeach

macrumors 6502
Sep 16, 2020
264
161
With the pandemic it’s necessary to have both Face ID and underscreen Touch ID
APPLE couldn’t do it in the 12 but there’s no excuse for not having it in iPhone 13. Wearing a mask will continue for a while
Touch ID would definitely be a huge plus now with mask wearing every day. I am sometimes tempted to go back to my 6s but it only has 16GB storage so I wouldn't be able to install all my apps.
 
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