AI for Biometric Systems: Techniques, Applications, and Ethics (EN.520.612/EN.520.412)

Following its successful launch in Spring 2025, this course offers an advanced and updated exploration of artificial intelligence methods applied to biometric systems. Designed for both graduate and advanced undergraduate students in Electrical and Computer Engineering, the course combines theoretical foundations, practical implementation, and ethical reflection on the use of biometric technologies in modern society.

The course includes one long weekly teaching period and a shorted pracice, and is worth 3 credits. This version of the course will be opened to a larger number of students than the previous year.

Course Description

AI for Biometric Systems: Techniques, Applications, and Ethics examines the design and deployment of biometric authentication systems, including both traditional approaches and modern AI-driven techniques. Students will study behavioral and physiological biometrics—such as speech, face, gait, and handwriting recognition—and their use in commercial, governmental, and forensic contexts. The course also emphasizes ethical, legal, and societal implications, including privacy, bias, and responsible AI deployment.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Explain and compare traditional and AI-based authentication methods and their security trade-offs.
• Design and implement behavioral and physiological biometric systems for identification and verification.
• Critically analyze applications of biometric technologies across commercial and forensic domains.
• Assess the legal, ethical, and moral implications of biometric data collection, processing, and usage.
• Engage with current debates and case studies in AI ethics and data protection.