The US National Institute of Standards and Technology has examined age estimation software and concluded that it has improved but still needs work.on the topic in ten years. After examining six algorithms, NIST concluded that none clearly outperformed the rest. However, NIST acknowledged the pace of AI development and noted that it would update its evaluation every four to six weeks to reflect technological improvements.
When NIST last examined age estimation algorithms in 2014, the online world was very different. Now, regulators are considering the technology as a gatekeeper for activities with an age restriction, such as accessing mature content online or dipping a toe into social media. The problem is that the six algorithms submitted when NIST made its call for submissions in September 2023 still have plenty of room for improvement, according to Kayee Hanaoka, a NIST computer scientist.