ToplineGoogle on Thursday introduced a new way to sign in or recover locked Google Accounts, putting biometric identity verification directly in the hands of its users by allowing them to record directed via selfie videos and submit them in lieu of a traditional password or security question.Sign with logos for Google and YouTube.Getty ImagesKey FactsGoogle’s new selfie video sign-in feature lets users record a short clip of themselves with head movement guidelines to verify their identity and, next time they need access to their account, they can take another selfie to get back in.The new software compares the new selfie to the original video—requiring users to perform simple movements to prove it's a live video—to confirm the user’s identity. The recorded video is stored in encrypted form with the option to delete it at any time, Google says, promising advanced checks are built in to block deepfake videos and impersonation attempts.Key backgroundThe feature arrives amid a broader account-security push from Google that has so far included fake-call detection against AI scams in June and the suing of a Chinese cybercrime operation that used AI to defraud hundreds of thousands of victims, according to TechCrunch. It’s also a major expansion of biometric account recovery, which has been a contested space: Apple has offered Face ID-based authentication since 2017, while Microsoft expanded Windows Hello facial recognition to account recovery workflows years ago. While it can be used as a regular sign-in, Google is largely positioning the selfie as a backup option specifically for lockout scenarios—the gap where users lose their phone or can't access their usual device. TANGENTThe timing of the new feature is notable: Google’s parent company Alphabet just reported second-quarter Google Cloud revenue of $24.77 billion, up 82% year-over-year, with CEO Sundar Pichai noting that nearly 90% of the Fortune 100 now use Gemini Enterprise, Google’s AI suites for businesses. The company on Wednesday said its Gemini app now has 950 million monthly active users. further readingForbes950 Million People Now Use Gemini Each Month As Alphabet Posts Earnings BeatBy Ty RoushForbesAlphabet Rally Boosts Google Cofounder Fortunes By $15 Billion—Here’s Why Shares Are UpBy Ty Roush