The US Department of Defense has requested $30.3 million in funding over five years to develop a next-generation lie detection system known as Polygraph Next or Polygraph+. The project aims to integrate artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze physiological data without the need for physical sensors attached to the subject.
The proposed technology is intended for screening job candidates and monitoring personnel with access to classified information. The initiative focuses on modernizing existing verification methods rather than deploying a finished product. The budget request currently awaits approval from the US Congress.
The Pentagon previously explored contactless verification in 2023 through the Defense Innovation Unit. Two companies, Presage Technologies and Altec Research, were selected to develop prototypes. Their work involved using cameras to monitor heart rate, respiration, head movement, and skin temperature.
Traditional polygraphs measure pulse, breathing, blood pressure, and perspiration. However, their scientific reliability has been questioned for decades, with the National Research Council describing the evidence for their effectiveness as weak in 2003. Experts express concern that AI integration may not resolve these fundamental accuracy issues.
