AI Facial Recognition Authenticates Historic Jesse James Photos, Reveals New Insights

Facial recognition technology is helping advance research into the infamous American outlaw Jesse James through analysis of historical photographs. The project, part of an upcoming documentary, employs Corsight AI algorithms to authenticate 19th-century images allegedly showing James, providing new insights into the historical figure. This marks a significant departure from Corsight’s typical applications in law enforcement and retail security.

The AI analysis examined several period photographs connected to James. Three images achieved high confidence matches with James’ well-known 1880s WANTED poster, including one showing a young Confederate guerrilla and another depicting a college-aged individual. The matches scored confidence levels between 60 and 85 – significant for analysis of historical photographic media like ambrotypes and tintypes, though below modern forensic thresholds. The technology also definitively ruled out several previously accepted images of James.

“The clear results of the facial recognition analysis we obtained—confirming the authenticity of some photos previously considered questionable—have provided new and surprising insights into the story of Jesse James,” noted Warren Getler, journalist and co-author of Rebel Gold. The research also explores James’ potential leadership role in the Knights of the Golden Circle, a Confederate underground movement.

Rob Watts, President of Corsight AI, noted this marks the first application of their recognition technology to 19th-century criminal identification. The company, which has recently expanded its operations globally and enhanced its capabilities in retail and law enforcement contexts, demonstrates new possibilities for analyzing historical figures using tools typically reserved for contemporary forensics.

The analysis incorporated explainability modules to validate its findings. According to Matan Noga, VP of Research and Development at Corsight AI, “With Corsight AI’s unique and patented explainability module, we can explain why the system identified a high match between certain images and a clear mismatch between others.” This transparency feature has become increasingly important as Corsight deploys its technology in sensitive applications, from retail fraud detection to law enforcement.

Prof. Yaniskiy Ravid of Fordham Law School emphasized the importance of AI explainability: “Explainability is essential for AI models to provide a human-understandable explanation of how an algorithm arrives at a decision.” This transparency addresses broader concerns about AI accountability, particularly relevant as facial recognition technology faces increased scrutiny in public applications.

The research aligns with emerging regulatory standards for AI transparency, including the upcoming ISO 42001, which will take effect in 2025 and require organizations to explain algorithmic decision-making processes. This standard reflects growing global demands for accountability in AI systems, particularly in biometric applications.

The documentary featuring these findings is scheduled for release in 2025, promising to enhance understanding of Jesse James’ historical legacy through this novel application of modern technology.

–

December 24, 2024 – by Cass Kennedy