Autonomous Access Control: What Does it Really Mean?

In the 1960’s a senate committee meeting was created to discuss predictions for the future of work, in which the group projected the American workweek would be down to 14 hours by 2000. Now, what exactly was this committee’s thought process behind such a short work week? Automated or autonomous technology is the answer. After World War II there was a huge spark of innovation and advancements in automation and robotics technology; making the prediction seem like something that really would happen. Today, we obviously know that this utopic workweek is still decades away. However, autonomous technology is here, and it’s still a hot topic in many markets.

For example, transportation, retail, security, and military are just some industries with early examples of autonomous technology, and it’s believed that autonomy will eventually revolutionize every industry - even if it’s yet to make our work weeks shorter.

What does it really mean to be “Autonomous”?

Autonomous Technologies are devices that work on specific tasks autonomously, without any human interaction. They’re typically powered by sophisticated algorithms and artificial intelligence, and make intelligent decisions on how to interact with end-users and other devices based on machine learning. Ultimately, though, autonomous technologies are all about enhancing our everyday machines, and making our lives more productive and convenient thanks to their predictive capabilities. 

This is something that is incredibly valuable in the access control world, especially with the emergence of so many different connected technologies and opportunities for security vulnerabilities. Coupled with smart devices, smartphones, personal computers, and millions of people, security professionals are up against a lot, and therefore, can only make effective decisions about so many things and individuals at once. 

Autonomous Technology and Practical Applications in Access Control

When we think about autonomous technology and how we can apply it to access control, we can get a small glimpse at what those senate committee members might have been picturing 60 years ago. More convenience, less time spent on managing the system, and an application that essentially runs and regulates itself, all while keeping an eye on all potential internal and external threats. This is not only something that is possible today and seen in some of the best access control systems in the market, but it’s also something all organizations should have to ensure the security of their assets and operations.

As humans, it’s tough for us to sift and sort through hundreds of memories, experiences, and everything we’ve learned throughout our lives. Our capacity to hold information can only go so far, and help us so much in times of decision making. But for a computer, or an autonomous access control system, the ability to go through a history of compiled data and positive decisions is limitless; making your organization significantly safer than those that use legacy security systems. Moreover, autonomous access control is the key to unlocking the future of smart security for all industries. As our infrastructure moves toward smarter, automated building solutions, autonomous access control will play an integral role in connecting and transforming spaces into intelligent environments that work together to fortify our facilities. 

Alcatraz AI’s Autonomous Access Control

Alcatraz AI is revolutionizing the access control experience by autonomously leveraging the unique power of the human face. Our flagship product, the Rock, the most advanced facial authentication solution built for the enterprise, leverages artificial intelligence to automate secure and frictionless entry into physical locations. Our technology creates safer buildings by making real-time decisions at the edge, detecting tailgating and controlling access. To check out our products in action and schedule a demo, visit www.alcatraz.ai.