Video: Biometrics for authenticating artworks

In the art world, a certificate of authenticity is the traditional guarantee of originality. Typically issued by artists, art dealers or private sellers, these certificates serve to distinguish genuine works from forgeries. The problem is that the actual proof of originality often amounts to little more than a signature on a piece of paper or a label on the back of an artwork—something that has proved all too tempting for fraudsters.

Gregor Kisters, an ETH Master’s student in Materials Science and Engineering, has now developed a fail-safe, tamper-proof technology to authenticate artworks. The SmartStamp app combines machine learning, artificial intelligence and computer vision to create what amounts to a unique digital fingerprint—essentially biometrics for artworks. With this patented technology, the company behind the app has introduced a new benchmark for the art world.