
Things are different on the other side of the mirror.
Text is backward. Clocks run counterclockwise. Cars drive on the wrong side of the road. Right hands become left hands.
Intrigued by how reflection changes images in subtle and not-so-subtle ways, a team of Cornell researchers used artificial intelligence to investigate what sets originals apart from their reflections. Their algorithms learned to pick up on unexpected clues such as hair parts, gaze direction and, surprisingly, beards – findings with implications for training machine learning models and detecting faked images.
“The universe is not symmetrical. If you flip an image, there are differences,” said Noah Snavely, associate professor of computer science at Cornell Tech and senior author of the study, “Visual Chirality,” presented at the 2020 Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition, held virtually June 14-19. “I’m intrigued by the discoveries you can make with new ways of gleaning information.”
Zhiqui Lin ’20 is the paper’s first author; co-authors are Abe Davis, assistant professor of computer science, and Cornell Tech postdoctoral researcher Jin Sun.
Differentiating between original images and reflections is a surprisingly easy task for AI, Snavely said – a basic deep learning algorithm can quickly learn how to classify if an image has been flipped with 60% to 90% accuracy, depending on the kinds of images used to train the algorithm. Many of the clues it picks up on are difficult for humans to notice.

AI learns to pick up on unexpected clues to differentiate original images from their reflections, the researchers found. Credit: Cornell University
For this study, the team developed technology to create a heat map that indicates the parts of the image that are of interest to the algorithm, to gain insight into how it makes these decisions.
They discovered, not surprisingly, that the most commonly used clue was text, which looks different backward in every written language. To learn more, they removed images with text from their data set, and found that the next set of characteristics the model focused on included wrist watches, shirt collars (buttons tend to be on the left side), faces and phones – which most people tend to carry in their right hands – as well as other factors revealing right-handedness.
The researchers were intrigued by the algorithm’s tendency to focus on faces, which don’t seem obviously asymmetrical. “In some ways, it left more questions than answers,” Snavely said.
They then conducted another study focusing on faces and found that the heat map lit up on areas including hair part, eye gaze – most people, for reasons the researchers don’t know, gaze to the left in portrait photos – and beards.
Snavely said he and his team members have no idea what information the algorithm is finding in beards, but they hypothesized that the way people comb or shave their faces could reveal handedness.
“It’s a form of visual discovery,” Snavely said. “If you can run machine learning at scale on millions and millions of images, maybe you can start to discover new facts about the world.”
Each of these clues individually may be unreliable, but the algorithm can build greater confidence by combining multiple clues, the findings showed. The researchers also found that the algorithm uses low-level signals, stemming from the way cameras process images, to make its decisions.
Though more study is needed, the findings could impact the way machine learning models are trained. These models need vast numbers of images in order to learn how to classify and identify pictures, so computer scientists often use reflections of existing images to effectively double their datasets.
Examining how these reflected images differ from the originals could reveal information about possible biases in machine learning that might lead to inaccurate results, Snavely said.
“This leads to an open question for the computer vision community, which is, when is it OK to do this flipping to augment your dataset, and when is it not OK?” he said. “I’m hoping this will get people to think more about these questions and start to develop tools to understand how it’s biasing the algorithm.”
Understanding how reflection changes an image could also help use AI to identify images that have been faked or doctored – an issue of growing concern on the internet.
“This is perhaps a new tool or insight that can be used in the universe of image forensics, if you want to tell if something is real or not,” Snavely said.
Original post: https://scitechdaily.com/how-ai-sees-through-the-looking-glass-things-are-different-on-the-other-side-of-the-mirror/
I am the business owner of JustCBD Store label (justcbdstore.com) and I’m presently trying to expand my wholesale side of company. I am hoping anybody at targetdomain give me some advice . I thought that the most suitable way to accomplish this would be to reach out to vape shops and cbd retail stores. I was really hoping if someone could recommend a reputable web site where I can buy CBD Shops International Sales Leads I am presently checking out creativebeartech.com, theeliquidboutique.co.uk and wowitloveithaveit.com. Unsure which one would be the best solution and would appreciate any support on this. Or would it be much simpler for me to scrape my own leads? Suggestions?
I’m the business owner of JustCBD Store label (justcbdstore.com) and I am currently aiming to develop my wholesale side of company. I really hope that anybody at targetdomain can help me 🙂 I thought that the most suitable way to do this would be to talk to vape stores and cbd retailers. I was hoping if anybody could suggest a reputable web site where I can buy Vape Shop Business Email Addresses I am presently reviewing creativebeartech.com, theeliquidboutique.co.uk and wowitloveithaveit.com. Not exactly sure which one would be the best selection and would appreciate any assistance on this. Or would it be much simpler for me to scrape my own leads? Ideas?
Great information. Lucky me I came across your website by accident (stumbleupon). I’ve book marked it for later!
Very good article! We will be linking to this great content on our site. Keep up the good writing.
You need to take part in a contest for one of the best blogs online. I’m going to recommend this site!
Oh my goodness! Impressive article dude! Thank you, However I am going through problems with your RSS. I don’t understand why I cannot subscribe to it. Is there anyone else getting identical RSS issues? Anyone that knows the solution can you kindly respond? Thanx!!
Everything is very open with a really clear explanation of the issues. It was truly informative. Your website is useful. Thank you for sharing!
This web site definitely has all of the info I wanted about this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
Hey there! I simply want to offer you a big thumbs up for your great information you’ve got here on this post. I will be returning to your web site for more soon.
I was pretty pleased to discover this site. I want to to thank you for your time just for this fantastic read!! I definitely really liked every part of it and i also have you book marked to look at new information in your site.
Useful info. Fortunate me I discovered your website accidentally, and
I’m surprised why this accident didn’t came about in advance!
I bookmarked it.
Hi, I think your site might be having browser compatibility issues.
When I look at your website in Opera, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping.
I just wanted to give you a quick heads up!
Other then that, great blog! adreamoftrains web
hosting reviews
I blog quite often and I really thank you for your information.
The article has really peaked my interest. I will bookmark your website and keep checking
for new details about once a week. I opted in for your
RSS feed as well.
What i do not realize is in reality how you’re now not actually much more well-liked than you may be right now.
You’re very intelligent. You know therefore significantly relating to
this subject, made me in my opinion imagine it from a lot of various angles.
Its like men and women don’t seem to be interested until it’s one
thing to accomplish with Lady gaga! Your personal stuffs excellent.
Always take care of it up!
Howdy, I do believe your site could be having internet browser compatibility problems. When I look at your blog in Safari, it looks fine however, if opening in IE, it’s got some overlapping issues. I merely wanted to provide you with a quick heads up! Apart from that, fantastic site!
You need to be a part of a contest for one of the most useful blogs online. I’m going to recommend this blog!
Excellent web site you have got here.. It’s difficult to find high-quality writing like yours these days. I really appreciate people like you! Take care!!
Very good article! We will be linking to this great post on our website. Keep up the great writing.
You made some good points there. I checked on the web for more information about the issue and found most individuals will go along with your views on this website.
Good info. Lucky me I found your site by chance (stumbleupon). I’ve saved it for later!
bookmarked!!, I love your web site!
Achieving your fitness goal does not have to require a certified personal trainer or an expensive gym membership, it’s not hard to exercise at home. It’s easy to go down a training and fitness rabbit hole, however, when you’re looking for the best home exercise equipment to outfit your personal home gym.
That is a great tip particularly to those fresh to the blogosphere. Brief but very precise information… Thanks for sharing this one. A must read post!
Pretty! This has been an extremely wonderful article. Thank you for supplying this info.
I used to be able to find good info from your articles.
You’re so awesome! I do not suppose I’ve truly read through something like this before. So good to discover another person with genuine thoughts on this subject. Really.. thank you for starting this up. This website is something that’s needed on the web, someone with some originality!
I wanted to thank you for this good read!! I absolutely loved every little bit of it. I have got you bookmarked to check out new things you post…
There is definately a great deal to find out about this issue. I really like all the points you’ve made.
Spot on with this write-up, I absolutely believe that this amazing site needs a great deal more attention. I’ll probably be back again to see more, thanks for the information!
Oh my goodness! Amazing article dude! Thank you so much, However I am going through problems with your RSS. I don’t know why I cannot join it. Is there anyone else getting identical RSS issues? Anyone that knows the solution can you kindly respond? Thanks!!
I blog often and I really thank you for your information. The article has really peaked my interest. I’m going to take a note of your website and keep checking for new details about once per week. I subscribed to your RSS feed too.
Good info. Lucky me I came across your blog by accident (stumbleupon). I’ve saved as a favorite for later!
This is the right blog for anybody who wishes to understand this topic. You realize a whole lot its almost tough to argue with you (not that I personally would want to…HaHa). You certainly put a fresh spin on a subject which has been discussed for ages. Excellent stuff, just excellent!
I could not refrain from commenting. Very well written!
I’m extremely pleased to uncover this site. I need to to thank you for your time just for this wonderful read!! I definitely enjoyed every bit of it and i also have you book marked to see new information in your website.
Howdy! I could have sworn I’ve visited this site before but after browsing through some of the articles I realized it’s new to me. Regardless, I’m certainly delighted I came across it and I’ll be book-marking it and checking back often!
This web site definitely has all the information I needed concerning this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
I couldn’t resist commenting. Exceptionally well written!
Howdy, There’s no doubt that your web site might be having internet browser compatibility issues. Whenever I look at your web site in Safari, it looks fine however, if opening in I.E., it’s got some overlapping issues. I just wanted to provide you with a quick heads up! Aside from that, fantastic site!
Aw, this was a very good post. Finding the time and actual effort to make a very good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate a whole lot and don’t seem to get nearly anything done.
Hi, I do think this is an excellent blog. I stumbledupon it 😉 I will return once again since I book-marked it. Money and freedom is the greatest way to change, may you be rich and continue to help others.
I’m amazed, I have to admit. Seldom do I encounter a blog that’s both equally educative and engaging, and without a doubt, you’ve hit the nail on the head. The issue is something which too few people are speaking intelligently about. Now i’m very happy I came across this during my hunt for something relating to this.
I want to to thank you for this great read!! I definitely loved every little bit of it. I’ve got you bookmarked to check out new things you post…
Good post. I learn something new and challenging on blogs I stumbleupon every day. It will always be exciting to read articles from other writers and use a little something from other web sites.
Having read this I believed it was really informative. I appreciate you finding the time and effort to put this short article together. I once again find myself spending a significant amount of time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worth it!
Very good article. I will be experiencing some of these issues as well..
This is the perfect web site for anybody who hopes to understand this topic. You know so much its almost hard to argue with you (not that I personally will need to…HaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a subject that’s been discussed for ages. Excellent stuff, just great!
Hi there to every one, since I am actually eager of reading this website’s post to be updated daily.
It consists of pleasant stuff.
I believe everything published was very reasonable. But, consider this, what if you added a little
information? I mean, I don’t want to tell you how to run your website, but
what if you added a title that makes people want more?
I mean How AI Sees Through the Looking Glass: Things Are Different on the Other Side
of the Mirror – Adolfo Eliazàt – Artificial Intelligence – AI News is a little vanilla.
You ought to look at Yahoo’s home page and see how they create news
titles to grab people to click. You might try adding a video or
a pic or two to grab readers excited about everything’ve got to say.
In my opinion, it would make your posts a little livelier.