Computer scientist Woodrow Bledsoe developed the first automated facial recognition system in the mid-1960s, spurring on digital biometrics research that would lead to uses in law enforcement by the 1990s. It was Apple’s Touch ID in 2013 and Face ID in 2017, however, that turned the body into a password for the average consumer. By replacing manual logins with seamless, instantaneous authentication, biometrics minimized friction and inextricably linked our bodies with the interfaces we use.

We find it natural to scan our faces to buy a latte, or register a retina to get through airport security. We unlock sensitive accounts with a fingerprint or a glance, trusting that the underlying systems are robust and secure. Biometric authentication foreshadowed the rise of wearables like Apple Watches, Oura rings, and smart glasses that track everything from heart rates and blood oxygen levels, to step counts and sleep patterns. They tell us when we’re ovulating, or at risk of a heart attack. The rise of biometrics to access, manage, and interpret sensitive information has created an unprecedented level of trust in software.