Opinion: Don’t want to tell your customers to mask up? Try using artificial intelligence

A sign alerts people to wear masks at a store in Brooklyn in New York City. MaskCheck uses AI and a tablet’s camera to detect whether a passer-by is not wearing a mask or wearing one improperly (for example, by covering the mouth but leaving the nose free to inhale and exhale virus-laden air). — TNS

Over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, plenty of evidence has emerged that wearing face masks cuts down on disease transmission and saves lives. Yet even in cities and states that have mandated mask use, compliance in the United States has been... unenthusiastic. And good luck finding a law enforcement officer eager to enforce those mandates.

So here’s an idea: Why not enlist the help of artificial intelligence to nudge people to mask up?