Maintaining a poker face at the tables is a crucial element to the success of poker players during live action, but the ability to hide the strength or weakness of your hole cards may be in jeopardy due to the advances of artificial intelligence.
According to chief scientist Poppy Crum of Dolby Laboratories, the company is working on AI that could reveal the truth behind what players are trying to hide. New sensors will be able to pick up the expressions and emotions of your opponents at the table.
"It is the end of the poker face," Crum told Interesting Engineering. "We broadcast our emotions. We will know more about each other than we ever have."
Crum revealed information about the Dolby innovation at a recent TED talk, explaining that the sensors can virtually see right through another by reading the micro-expressions given off with regard to situations and surroundings. The sensors combine with an AI system that can pick up on such emotions as truthfulness, infatuation and anger.
The sensors have the ability to track micromovements that people unwittingly give off. The technology is designed to gather information from various cues, analyzing certain patterns as it relates to feelings.
Long Live Poker
Poker players can rest assured that the innovation's main purpose is not to ruin the game of poker. Instead, Crum visualizes a scenario where humans can be helped by the powerful technology.
"I am not looking to create a world where our inner lives are ripped open, but I am looking to create a world where we can care about each other more effectively," she said.
Online poker players have long gained edges over their opponents by using tools such as HUDs at their disposal. I suppose it was only a matter of time before live poker was also infected with various tools as well.