The Aporia
The Aporia
Howe, M. (2026, September 24). 'Pay with smile’ facial recognition tech trialled in London cafes. Evening Standard. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/revolut-facial-recognition-instore-checkout-system-trial-b1298103.html
Howe, Megan. “'Pay with smile’ facial recognition tech trialled in London cafes.” Evening Standard, 24 Sept. 2026, https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/revolut-facial-recognition-instore-checkout-system-trial-b1298103.html.
Howe, Megan. “'Pay with smile’ facial recognition tech trialled in London cafes.” Evening Standard, September 24, 2026. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/revolut-facial-recognition-instore-checkout-system-trial-b1298103.html.
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Revolut Business launched a pilot program for its "Pay with Smile" feature in London cafes starting this Thursday. The technology allows customers to make payments using facial recognition on Revolut Register terminals without the need for physical payment methods. Users must opt-in through their Revolut app and complete a facial identity check similar to unlocking a smartphone or accessing an app. If the verification is successful, it authorizes an account-to-account payment directly from the user’s Revolut account. Alex Codina, general manager of merchant payments at Revolut Business, stated that this system aims to solve consumer and merchant pain points by offering a seamless checkout experience. Personal data will not be stored by participating merchants, and all facial recognition data is encrypted end-to-end. The pilot program initially involves Kiss the Hippo Coffee in London.
