New Truth Machine App Detects Lies 2015

The new Truth Machine app alerts you when a colleague, vendor or friend is lying to you. Analyzing both audio and video images from a face-to-face conversation or video chat, it identifies potential deceit. The app's founders claim that the app can detect 99% of all lies.

I'm lying.

This app doesn't exist, yet. But for the sake of this article, let's assume it will exist in the next few years. Let's imagine that you - and everyone else - will be able to detect all lies.

So when your boss tells you, "Great job!" you will instantly know if he is lying.

When a vendor swears to you that she is offering you the lowest possible price, you will know when that is not true.

Even worse, if your significant other claims to be working late at the office, you will know when that statement is false.

My intention isn't to make predictions about the pace of technological change. It's simply to challenge myself - and you - to consider the possibility that lying may soon become nearly impossible.

Even if you are skeptical about the pace of technological development, I urge you to set that skepticism aside for a minute and consider this:

What if lying becomes futile?

Pamela Meyer, author of Liespotting, points out that you don't need an app to spot deception. Our faces, voices and actions offer many clues whether or not we are telling the truth. With focus and practice, anyone can learn to detect lies.

For example, Meyer's web site points out that:

From frowns to smiles, we typically reveal true feelings evenly on both sides of the face. Just like a picture hanging perfectly plumb on a wall, one’s face looks its most natural when balanced. Six of the seven core emotions are displayed genuinely with symmetrical expressions on the face. What this means is that if a colleague shows signs of surprise on just one side of her face, chances are she already knew what you just told her.

I'm just taking this one step further, and speculating about what would happen if liespotting techniques were automated.

In many LinkedIn articles, the comments are an interesting follow on to the post; in this one, your comments are front and center. Rather than try to answer this question myself, I'd like to suggest that it will be far more enlightening to solicit all your ideas, from a wide cross-section of countries, industries and ages.

If, as I hope, this article generates a lively discussion, I will publish a second piece that highlights the most insightful comments.

Here are some questions you might want to address:

• How will relationships change when tactful white lies are no longer possible? What if, when your spouse asks if s/he looks fat, you have no choice but to be honest?
• Will complete honesty make business relationships more or less compassionate? 
• How will each of us need to alter our thoughts and actions when we get 100% accurate feedback?
• What would the transition be like, as such an app was first announced, then available, then widely adopted? How would you feel about a person who refused to talk with you while you had the app running?