The Active Shape Model (ASM) is a statistical model used in computer vision and image analysis to identify and locate shapes in images. It works by learning the variations of a shape from a set of training examples, allowing it to adapt to new images while maintaining the overall structure of the shape. ASMs utilize a set of landmark points that define the shape's geometry. By adjusting these points based on the input image, the model can accurately fit the shape to the object of interest. This technique is commonly applied in fields like medical imaging and facial recognition, enhancing the analysis of complex shapes.