The theme park of the future will welcome visitors using facial recognition instead of tickets, let them pay with their faces for meals and join express lines for rides with just a flash of their smiles.
The new Universal Studios theme park under construction in China will use facial recognition for admissions, payments and queueing, according to Agence France-Presse.
Universal is teaming up with Chinese internet giant Alibaba for a host of services that will be integrated into the new Beijing theme park opening in 2021, the two companies announced during a joint press event on Thursday.
“There is no more seamless way to enjoy what we’re building than using the Alibaba technology,” said Comcast CEO Brian Roberts, according to AFP.
SEE ALSO: ‘Jason Bourne’ stunt show coming to Universal Studios Florida in 2020
Cameras will scan visitors’ faces as they enter Universal Studios Beijing to determine if they’ve paid their admission. The facial recognition cameras in the new theme park will be linked to Alibaba’s Alipay electronic payment platform. The new technology will allow Universal visitors to use their faces to join express queues for rides, pay for meals and open lockers.
Facial recognition technology is used for everything from supermarket checkouts to surveillance in China, according to AFP.
SEE ALSO: This guy visited every Disney and Universal theme park in the U.S. in a day
Visitors uncomfortable with the facial recognition technology or who have privacy concerns will still be able to pay for tickets, meals and merchandise using more traditional methods, Universal officials told AFP.
Universal Studios Beijing will feature themed lands based on the “Harry Potter,” “Jurassic World,” “Kung Fu Panda,” “Despicable Me” and “WaterWorld” movie franchises.
SEE ALSO: What’s the least expensive Disney theme park in the world? Some parks offer tickets as low as $40
Universal has not yet announced whether the new technology will be eventually deployed at its theme parks in California, Florida, Japan and Singapore. There are no plans to use the facial recognition systems at Universal Studios Hollywood, officials said.
