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Picture the last time you called a service hotline and found yourself stuck in an endless loop of automated responses. Or consider a healthcare clinic that deploys chatbots to manage patient intake, offering quick answers that may skirt a deeper diagnosis. How did you feel? These scenarios illustrate the growing reliance on AI systems that look helpful on the surface — yet lead to chronic consumer disempowerment and latent dissatisfaction. “Placebo AI” can seem like a convenient, cost-effective fix. But it risks normalizing lower standards of care, sidelining genuine human expertise, and quietly chipping away at the dignity and rights we depend on, individually and as society. As more businesses adopt these automated stand-ins, how can we ensure that technology complements rather than compromises our values? Unequal Realities, Divergent Timelines The global context for AI adoption is one of striking disparity. As of 2023, approximately 719 million people live on less than $2.15 a day, according to the World Bank . Many struggle to access basic human needs — clean water, adequate healthcare, quality education — while others debate the nuances of the latest large language model. Our two-speed world raises difficult questions. One of them relates to the appeal of “placebo AI”. Are we moving toward a future where impoverished communities must settle for automated “care” delivered by bots because it’s nominally cheaper than human intervention? Will human relationships become a luxury that only wealthier segments of society can enjoy? Historically, human rights have been upheld as universal non-negotiables. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights , established in 1948, asserts everyone’s right to dignity, respect, fair treatment, and access to education, food, and health care. Yet if cost-cutting and scale become primary drivers for implementing AI, we risk tacitly compromising these values. AI-driven services can quickly become a baseline standard for those who cannot afford human support. Over time, the idea that “something is better than nothing” morphs into a norm, quietly shifting public perception until the original ideal — human care and genuine connection — recedes. The History Of Austerity’s Allure Austerity, a term that gained prominence during economic downturns — such as post-World War II Europe and the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis — refers to policies aimed at reducing government deficits through spending cuts and tax increases, often at the expense of public services and social safety nets. Under austerity conditions, organizations and institutions may be driven to seek cheaper, more “efficient” solutions to human-intensive tasks. In the current context, adopting “placebo AI” as a fix for unavailable or costly human labor is a prime illustration of austerity in practice. Unfortunately, there is “no free lunch” – austerity measures can inadvertently erode quality of life when budget considerations trigger a shift from human-centered care toward automation that mimics support rather than delivering tangible human assistance. A Future Of Automation AI’s potential for cost reduction is significant. For instance, the global AI market, valued at $87 billion in 2022, is expected to grow to $407.0 billion by 2027, according to MarketsandMarkets . Organizations are drawn to automation because it promises to handle tasks at scale, free human labor from rote or repetitive work, and theoretically open new avenues for human-centric roles. Done well, this redistribution could mean more meaningful human-to-human interactions. Done poorly, it could mean a future where human warmth is a luxury good, and those who struggle to find meaningful work will be even worse off. As of 2023, global unemployment hovered around 208 million people, according to the International Labor Organization . Inflation, declining disposable incomes in G20 countries, and persistent inequalities between high- and low-income nations further exacerbate the situation, with job gaps and unemployment rates significantly higher in low-income countries. Working poverty is also on the rise, with millions of workers living in extreme poverty – less than $2.- per day of income, and an even bigger number in moderate poverty – less than $4.- a day. AI-driven job displacement and the calls for Universal Basic Income as a social safety net reflect the urgency and complexity of the situation. UBI programs whereby consistent, unconditional payments are distributed by the government to ensure a basic standard of living for every member of a community have been piloted in dozens of countries. From Finland to Kenya they have shown promise in alleviating poverty, but none have scaled globally to solve systemic issues definitively. If implemented without careful safeguards, UBI could mask deeper structural problems, like placebo AI masks the absence of human engagement. BandAid Or Value Barometer Placebo AI can start as a well-intentioned intermediary: a chatbot to assist underserved patients when no doctors are available or a digital teacher to reach students in remote areas. Initially, this might feel like a positive step — at least something reaches those in need. But over time, as budgets tighten and automation normalizes, the danger is that these temporary fixes become permanent standards. Instead of solving the root problems — lack of equitable resources and insufficient human labor where needed — we risk codifying second-tier solutions for second-tier communities. Eventually, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and similar frameworks could be sidelined as ideals too lofty for practical use in an AI-mediated world. Finding Balance: Keeping Humanity At The Center For businesses, acknowledging this moral dimension is not just ethically correct; it’s strategically brilliant. Consumers are increasingly discerning. 63% of consumers expect CEOs to hold themselves accountable to the public, not just shareholders, according to Edelman’s 2023 Trust Barometer . Moreover, employees are drawn to organizations that prioritize social impact. Sustainability, diversity, and human-centric values are no longer “nice to haves.” They are essential to brand identity and long-term resilience. Instead of using AI merely to cut costs, forward-thinking companies can harness AI to do routine work more efficiently and reallocate human workers to roles that emphasize empathy, creativity, and genuine human connection. Imagine a call center that uses AI to handle simple queries but trains its freed-up staff to handle complex, emotionally sensitive calls with better care. Or hospitals where AI streamlines administrative tasks, freeing medical professionals to spend more one-on-one time with patients. AI can handle administrative grading tasks in education, allowing teachers to mentor and guide students more personally. The A-Frame: A Practical Path Forward Bringing awareness to the issue of placebo AI is only the first step. Organizations need a clear framework to remain aligned with core human values. Consider the A-Frame : Awareness: Recognize that AI can unintentionally propagate inequality and diminish human rights if used as a low-cost band-aid. Stay informed about the ethical debates, regulatory changes, and social implications of AI. Appreciation: Value the human element. Don’t let “better than nothing” become the new standard. Appreciate the intrinsic worth of human interaction, empathy, and judgment. Acceptance: Acknowledge the complexity of implementing AI responsibly. Accept that transitioning to responsible AI use requires more than technology; it demands organizational commitment, policy safeguards, and ongoing cultural shifts. Accountability: Hold leadership accountable for ensuring that AI initiatives do not compromise human dignity. Use transparent metrics, public reporting, and stakeholder engagement to ensure your company’s AI aligns with ethical standards and human rights ideals. Further And Beyond As we stand at the intersection of AI innovation and human endeavor, it’s easy to be swept up in the promise of sleek automation. But we must remember that a future of hollow, impersonal service is no real future at all. Instead of framing our choices as old versus new or human versus machine, we can integrate the best of both to raise living standards, honor human rights, and keep genuine connections within everyone’s reach. We can create a balanced path where technology supports rather than supplants our humanity, ensuring progress that benefits us all – but this requires choices now before the new normal of omnipresent placebo AI has settled in.

NoneWhat Happens When Economic Models Fail to Predict Real Outcomes?

Biometrics are central to changes in how KYC is conducted around the world being ushered in by trends towards decentralized identity, as discussed in a webinar featuring Dock, Daon and Youverse, and towards digitization and remote enrollment in the Asia-Pacific region, as discussed by BixeLab and the FIDO Alliance executives. Beyond those two popular stories from the past week, the evolution in KYC is reflected among ’s most-read articles in the acquisition of IDVerse by LexisNexis, and the insights on how VCs see the digital identity market for financial services from a partner at Centana. The UK government is weighing legal amendments to allow the use of digital ID and , and expand DIATF certification to cover age checks. A consultation published at the beginning of the year is in review, but reportedly receiving support, amid a broader push for voluntary digital identity. Identity fraud is now , according to a report from Cifas and RUSI, and support for victims is lacking. One possible legal remedy is making the acquisition of someone else’s identity details illegal, separate from and before their use in the commission of a crime. Executives from Dock, Daon and Youverse discussed the dramatic potential of over the next four years in an online roundtable. One potential pitfall for decentralized identity is that digital wallets will inevitably be compromised, but this is where biometrics can retain a key security role, says Dock CEO Nick Lambert. for an undisclosed return, adding face biometrics, liveness detection and ID document authentication to its portfolio two years after its addition of Behaviosec’s behavioral biometrics. IDVerse rebranded from OCR Labs a year ago, and will become part of LexisNexis’ Business Services division. Malaysia is far from meeting its registrations targets for the national digital ID, drawing a rebuke from PM Anwar stern enough that he later apologized. , months after implementing partner Mimos had hoped to reach 10 million. Changes in digital identity and KYC regulations are , creating an opportunity for businesses that can keep on top of and meet their various requirements. BixeLab’s Ted Dunstone and of the FIDO Alliance discussed what those requirements are and the standards that underpin them in the latest webinar, which is now available to . Ghana has launched at the country’s biggest airport in Accra with a ceremony presided over by VP Mahamudu Bawumia. Thales partner Margins Group was contracted to install the gates four years ago, Bawumia says, but various stages of the process appear to have been ongoing for years. Cameroon is still trying to secure a loan to , after talks with China Construction Bank Corporation broke down. The government will now attempt to secure $52 million from the Shenzhen branch of China Citic Bank Corporation Ltd to go with another loan from the Hong Kong branch of Banco Santander. Eric Byunn, co-founder and partner of Jumio-backer Centana Growth Partners tells in an interview that he sees opportunity in a layer of digital identity services that into a single solution. The best technologies on the market for identity verification are effective, but KBA remains shockingly prevalent as financial institutions attempt to prioritize user experience. Nigeria’s ID4D is running an $83 million tender for a system integrator to and upgrade the country’s digital identity management system and biometric capabilities. A revised procurement plan from the World Bank shows the NIMS 2.0 upgrade is one of the overall project’s last major contracts. Ukraine’s Foreign Affairs Ministry is with the capabilities of specific models from Dermalog and Thales. One of the biometric scanners is a ten-print model used mainly for criminal investigations and issuing digital IDs, while the other is a single-finger scanner with built-in liveness detection. Please let us know about any podcasts, webinars or other content you think we should share with the people in biometrics and the digital identity community, either in the comments below or through social media. | | | | |KUWAIT: As the 45th Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit opens on Sunday in Kuwait, it is impossible to overlook the pivotal role played by the country’s leadership in the founding of the council. Years of tireless efforts and extensive consultations led by the late Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah culminated in the establishment of GCC in 1981. This vision, developed over five years, laid the foundation for what has become one of the most successful models of regional integration in the Arab world. The GCC now stands as a cornerstone for the security, stability, and prosperity of its member states and their peoples. Over the past four decades, the GCC, guided by the wisdom and visionary leadership of its rulers and the solidarity of its peoples, has served as a strong framework for collective security. The idea for the creation of the GCC was first proposed in May 1976, during a visit by the late Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad to the United Arab Emirates. There, he engaged in discussions with the late UAE President, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, in which he proposed the formation of a Gulf unity aimed at fostering cooperation across a wide range of fields. This unity would be based on solid and enduring foundations, ensuring the security, stability, and well-being of the region’s peoples. In December 1978, Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad instructed the late Crown Prince and then Prime Minister, Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, to visit the five other Gulf countries — UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar — to present his proposal. His visits were met with strong support, and the subsequent official statements emphasized the need for rapid action to unite these nations. They highlighted the deep religious, cultural, and national ties between the Gulf countries, which provided a solid foundation for cooperation and progress, as well as a means to counter the growing influence of external powers in the region. At the 11th Arab League Summit in Amman in November 1980, Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad presented a Kuwaiti vision for a unified Gulf strategy. His proposal called for a comprehensive framework of cooperation, encompassing political, economic, cultural, and military collaboration. This vision was widely embraced by the Gulf states. On February 4, 1981, the foreign ministers of the six Gulf states convened and issued a statement calling for the establishment of the GCC, emphasizing cooperation among member states rather than a political union. To implement this vision, a committee of experts met in Riyadh on February 24-25, 1981, to finalize the council’s structure and draft its founding charter. On March 9, 1981, the foreign ministers met in Muscat, Oman, where they approved the GCC’s organizational structure and initialed its founding charter. Finally, on May 25, 1981, the first summit of the GCC was held in Abu Dhabi, officially establishing the Gulf Cooperation Council. The founding charter was formally adopted, and Kuwaiti diplomat Abdullah Yacoub Bishara was appointed as the first Secretary-General of the GCC. Founding charter The preamble of the GCC’s charter underscored the special relations, shared values, and common objectives among the member states, all rooted in Islamic principles, a common destiny, and unity of purpose. The GCC’s cooperative efforts were aimed at serving the higher goals of the Arab nation. The objectives outlined in the founding charter include promoting coordination, integration, and unity among the member states across a range of fields—political, economic, financial, commercial, customs, transportation, education, culture, health, media, tourism, and legislative affairs. The charter also emphasized fostering scientific and technological advancements in key sectors such as industry, mining, agriculture, water, and animal resources, while establishing research centers and joint projects to encourage private sector cooperation. The final communiqué of the first GCC summit highlighted the region’s security and stability, emphasizing the rejection of foreign interference and the need for the Gulf to remain free from international conflicts. Effective regional union The summit also reaffirmed the necessity of finding a just solution to the Palestinian issue that would guarantee the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. The creation of the GCC was not merely a strategic decision; it was a reflection of the deep historical, social, and cultural ties that unite these nations. The shared religious beliefs, cultural connections, and familial bonds among their peoples, along with their geographical proximity, created a natural sense of unity and common identity. While the GCC formalized and organized the long-standing interactions among these nations, it also responded to the security and developmental challenges facing the region. The establishment of the GCC was a practical response to the aspirations of the Gulf peoples for regional unity, especially after broader Arab unity proved difficult to achieve. As the GCC celebrates its 43rd anniversary, it continues to be regarded as the most important regional entity in the Arab world, as His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah remarked during the 43rd Gulf Summit in Riyadh in December 2022. “Our collective Gulf action is filled with remarkable achievements that have elevated the GCC to one of the most successful and effective regional unions. We have successfully met the aspirations of our people and achieved strategic and economic benefits for our countries,” he said. — KUNA

So, you went a little crazy during the recent Black Friday and bought too many items you don’t need. Or you want to discard items that no longer spark joy. Perhaps you’re strapped for cash but you still need to get some last-minute birthday gifts or Christmas shopping. Or you need some items and you know secondhand works just fine. Whatever situation you find yourself in, thrift stores can be the light at the end of the tunnel. They breathe new life into secondhand items – whether they’re impulse buys, gently used, or ready for a new chapter. Thrift stores are also treasure troves for those on a budget or eco-conscious shoppers looking to revive pre-loved items. What sets Thryft apart? Artificial intelligence (AI). Thryft leverages AI to handle the tedious administrative work that typically bogs down secondhand stores, such as pricing, cataloguing, and inventory management. This automation frees up resources and allows the Thryft team to focus on other matters requiring the human touch, such as strategising the growth of the brand and coming up with initiatives like item giveaways, book clubs, and themed promotions at their retail space located in Cendex Centre at Lower Delta Road. BUILDING ON A CIRCULAR ECONOMY ON CAMPUS Thryft’s journey began in 2019. Five schoolmates at Yale-NUS College recognised the value of secondhand items and wanted to expand on the secondhand market they observed on campus. “There was this group on Yale NUS’ Facebook called For Sale For Free, where students would give away stuff they didn’t need anymore, most of which were books,” said Eddie Lim, one co-founder and Thryft’s current chief executive officer. The 27-year-old added: “It was like Carousell or Olio for Yale NUS but so much better because we stayed so close to each other in dorms and we could give away or sell our stuff easily.” From his experiences in the Facebook group, Lim realised just how much “stuff” a lot of people owned but didn’t really use anymore. Another co-founder and Thryft’s current chief marketing officer, Choy Jia Yu, said that she too recognised the demand for secondhand items. “I’ve always been into secondhand items, and I was inspired by my mum who was often eco-conscious in her own way,” said the 25-year-old, who majored in Environmental Studies. “I liked to figure out ways to extend the life of an item beyond its single use.” In school, Choy and a few friends organised a few pop-up events where they collected old clothes and books, resold them, and donated the proceeds to a cause. However, when handling the operations of these events, Choy and her friends quickly realised how tiresome the process was: “It wasn’t straightforward at all, a lot of manual work had to be done.” She gave the example of reselling an old book. Before listing the item, the team needs to identify the publisher and genre, determine its retail price, assess its condition, look for defects, estimate a reselling price, and write a description of the book. “It was too much work to handle,” Choy said. “Even though the demand and supply for secondhand items were there, there was a huge operational and logistical gap in between.” Lim compared the secondhand market’s potential to large e-commerce platforms like the now-defunct Book Depository, which offered both competitive prices and convenient home deliveries. While secondhand items often come with attractive prices, the buying and selling experience often lacks convenience. “It’s quite leceh (troublesome) to individually list down or photograph the stuff you own but wanna give away, and this doesn’t count the hassle of negotiating or the need to travel somewhere inconvenient,” said Lim. “So people just keep their stuff and let it gather dust at home.” MAKING THE SECONDHAND MARKET MORE ACCESSIBLE Their experiences gave Lim an idea: “What if we could make the secondhand market more convenient and efficient, such that owners can easily give away their stuff at a value, and people looking for stuff can find them easily, too?” That’s when Lim, who majored in mathematical, computational and statistical sciences, was moved to build a tool to solve that. With a few peers, Lim coded a basic AI-powered tool that automated much of the manual work he and Choy struggled with when listing secondhand items. At this time, the name “Thryft” came to them and one of its early iterations included a campus drop-off point where students, staff members, and the public could leave their old books. Using the algorithmic tool Lim developed, the books were assigned a value in "points." These points allowed users to purchase other secondhand books that Thryft listed without spending any money. Lim refers to their AI-powered tool as the "Price Predictor", but it’s capable of much more than just pricing. Here’s how it works: Take a photo of an old book you’d like to sell and upload it into the app. The technology then processes the image and generates key details automatically, including: All this happens with just a photo and a few answered questions. If the system gets anything wrong, Lim can manually correct it. With items like vintage or rare books, a lot more input may be needed, but the tech will do the heavy lifting of the administrative work. The tool solved many of the problems Lim and Choy mentioned, and soon, the team managed to collect hundreds of books, catalogue them, and tag them with a reselling price using the tool they got. Since its founding in 2019, the original team of five—comprising Lim, Choy, a tech expert, a business developer, and an operations lead—along with a full-time worker and several Yale-NUS student interns, expanded Thryft while managing their studies. Initially, Thryft participated in pop-up events and collaborations with other organisations. In 2020, using their own savings and earnings from reselling books and clothes, the team rented a space to store their growing inventory of secondhand items. During the pandemic, they leveraged initiatives like startup loans from local banks, allowing them to scale further by renting more storage space to accommodate increasing donations. A RETAIL SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO ENJOY In late 2021, Thryft gained traction through Instagram and word of mouth. This publicity helped them secure funding from angel investors, enabling the team to move to a larger warehouse and host pop-up events at venues like The Projector and Coronation Plaza throughout 2022. Over the years, Lim and the team enhanced the tool’s accuracy and automated additional functions. For example, once an item is photographed, it is automatically uploaded to Thryft’s backend system and added to the database without any manual input. After verification, the AI updates the data and lists the item on the Thryft website , making it ready for users to browse and purchase online By the end of that year, most of the founding team had graduated and moved on to other pursuits, leaving Lim and Choy as the remaining co-founders to lead Thryft’s growth. In 2023, after years of pop-ups, Thryft opened its first retail space at Peace Centre, which operated for five months until Jan 2024, when the mall closed down . While having an entirely online space may seem more economically sound and efficient, Lim and Choy emphasised the unique value of having a physical store where customers could experience the "vibes" of a secondhand shop. There, people need not wait for pop-up events. The space allows people to sift through various books, clothes and children’s items, and be surprised by the “treasures” they can find in another person’s “trash”. When Peace Centre closed in January 2024, knowing that they needed another retail space, Lim and Choy soon found another home at Lower Delta Road and opened in September. The space is expansive, with shelves brimming with books across various genres – from travel non-fiction and political memoirs to young adult fiction and children’s storybooks. There are also racks of jeans in various colours and sizes, alongside dresses, blouses, and tops suitable for both parties and workwear. Thryft has come a long way. Beyond the familiar shelves of books and racks of clothes seen at their pop-up events, the retail space features unique additions like a display wall showcasing secondhand vinyl records, a recent addition to their inventory. Visitors can even play these records on a turntable tucked in the corner. Another interactive feature of the space is a large set of tables with papers plastered onto them in the centre of the store. Here, visitors could pick up pens or markers to draw anything they’d like or respond to the questions written on the paper, like “Why do you shop secondhand?” or “What do you do for the environment?” There’s also a cosy corner featuring rare and vintage books, some dating back to the early 1900s. Next to them are vintage comic books, well-maintained and carefully restored for the next owner to marvel at. Throughout the store, there are also inviting nooks and seats that provide a space for visitors to slow down, pick up a book, and simply read or relax. People can also drop off their items at the store. Thryft accepts books, clothes, vinyl records, card and board games, console games, children's toys, selected sporting goods categories, and selected electronics, based on their guidelines . For those who'd like the convenience, you can opt for the courier pickup, where the Thryft team will collect your items from your house for $10 per box (up to 10kg), simply by filling up a form on their website . Using their AI tool, Thryft can identify the items and assign an estimated reselling price. In return, you’ll receive the equivalent dollar value of your items in Thryft credits via a gift card, which can be used to purchase other secondhand items in their online or physical store. “A lot of people say they want to buy secondhand for all kinds of reasons, whether it’s to save money or be more eco-conscious, but the problem was that people didn’t know where or how,” Lim said. “We hope Thryft can get people to shop secondhand without burning out with the laborious manual and administrative tasks," he added. "Instead, they can focus on the joy in finding pre-loved treasure."

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