Summary: Zoom has partnered with World, Sam Altman’s biometric identity company, to let meeting participants verify they are human using World’s Deep Face technology, which cross-references iris-scanned biometric profiles with live video to display a “Verified Human” badge. The feature responds to deepfake fraud that cost businesses over $200 million in Q1 2025 alone, including a $25 million loss at engineering firm Arup, though World’s iris-scanning Orb system faces ongoing regulatory action in Spain, Germany, the Philippines, and several other countries.

Zoom has partnered with World, the biometric identity company co-founded by Sam Altman, to let meeting participants prove they are real humans and not AI-generated deepfakes. The integration uses World’s Deep Face technology to cross-reference a participant’s live video feed against their iris-scanned biometric profile, and displays a “Verified Human” badge next to their name when the match succeeds. Hosts can enable a Deep Face waiting room that requires verification before anyone joins, and participants can request that someone verify themselves mid-call.

The feature addresses a threat that has moved from theoretical to expensive. In early 2024, engineering firm Arup lost $25 million after an employee in Hong Kong authorised a series of wire transfers during a video call in which every other participant turned out to be an AI-generated deepfake of his colleagues, including the company’s CFO. A similar attack hit a multinational firm in Singapore in 2025. Across the industry, deepfake-enabled fraud exceeded $200 million in losses in the first quarter of 2025 alone, and the average loss per corporate incident now tops $500,000.

How verification works

World’s Deep Face takes a three-pronged approach. It cross-references a signed image captured during the user’s original registration through World’s Orb device, a spherical biometric scanner that photographs iris patterns, with a real-time face scan from the user’s phone or computer and a live video frame visible to other meeting participants. Verification only succeeds when all three inputs match. The process runs locally on the participant’s device, and World says no personal data leaves the phone.

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This is architecturally different from the deepfake detection tools already available on Zoom’s marketplace. Products from Pindrop, Reality Defender, and Resemble AI analyse video frames for telltale signs of AI manipulation, flagging synthetic media in real time. Both Zoom and World said that because video generation models are improving rapidly, those frame-by-frame detection methods are becoming increasingly unreliable. Deep Face sidesteps the detection problem entirely by verifying the person’s identity against a biometric record rather than trying to determine whether the pixels on screen were generated by software.

The trade-off is that Deep Face requires participants to have a World ID, which means they must have visited one of World’s physical Orb devices to have their irises scanned. The network currently has around 18 million verified users across 160 countries and roughly 1,500 active Orbs. That is a small fraction of Zoom’s user base, which limits the feature’s immediate utility. For most meetings, the existing frame-analysis tools will remain the practical option. Deep Face is designed for high-stakes calls where identity certainty justifies the friction of requiring biometric pre-registration.

The business case

Zoom’s spokesperson Travis Isaman described the integration as part of the company’s “open ecosystem approach, giving customers more ways to build trust into their workflows based on what matters most for their use case.” The framing is deliberate. Zoom is not endorsing World ID as its default identity layer; it is offering it as one option among several in a marketplace that already includes multiple deepfake detection and identity verification tools.

For Zoom, the partnership is defensive. The company’s revenue reached $4.67 billion in fiscal 2025, growing at a modest 3%, and its strategic challenge is to remain the default platform for business communication as competitors add AI features across the board. Zoom has responded with AI avatars, an AI-powered office suite, and cross-application AI notetakers. Adding human verification addresses a different vector: making Zoom the platform that enterprises trust for sensitive conversations. In a market where a single deepfake call can cost $25 million, that trust has a measurable commercial value.

For World, the Zoom integration is a distribution win. The company, which rebranded from Worldcoin in 2024, has struggled to move beyond crypto-adjacent early adopters. Its partnerships with Visa, Tinder, Razer, and Coinbase have expanded the contexts in which a World ID is useful, but none of those integrations create the kind of immediate, visceral demand that a corporate security use case does. If a company’s treasury team requires World ID verification for any video call involving wire transfer authorisation, that creates institutional adoption that individual consumer partnerships do not.

The privacy question

World’s Orb-based identity system has faced sustained regulatory scrutiny. Spain’s data protection authority issued a formal warning in February 2026 citing GDPR violations and insufficient data protection assessments. Germany’s Bavarian data regulator ordered the deletion of iris data in December 2024. The Philippines issued a cease-and-desist order in October 2025 for obtaining consent through financial incentives. Investigations or suspensions have occurred in Argentina, Kenya, Hong Kong, and Indonesia.

The governance frameworks emerging around biometric AI in 2026, including the EU AI Act’s high-risk classification for biometric identification systems, add further complexity. World maintains that its zero-knowledge proof architecture means verification happens without exposing personal data, and that iris images are encrypted and stored only on the user’s device. Critics argue that the collection process itself, requiring a physical visit to an Orb to have your eyes scanned, creates risks that privacy-preserving cryptography does not fully address, particularly when recruitment has disproportionately targeted lower-income communities.

For enterprises evaluating the Zoom integration, the calculus is whether the security benefit of biometric human verification outweighs the regulatory and reputational risk of requiring employees or counterparties to register with a company that multiple data protection authorities have sanctioned. That calculation will differ by jurisdiction and by industry. A Wall Street trading desk conducting a $100 million deal over Zoom may decide the risk is worth it. A European public-sector organisation almost certainly will not.

What this means

The Zoom-World partnership is a marker of how far the deepfake threat has advanced. Two years ago, the Arup incident was treated as an extraordinary outlier. Today, deepfake-enabled fraud is a billion-dollar category, AI-generated video is sophisticated enough to defeat frame-analysis detection, and the question of whether the person on a video call is real has become a legitimate enterprise security concern.

The solution Zoom and World are proposing, biometric identity verification anchored to iris scans, works technically but introduces its own set of complications around privacy, regulatory compliance, and the barrier to adoption that physical Orb registration creates. It is a feature for specific, high-value use cases rather than a default setting for every Monday morning stand-up. But the fact that Zoom considers it worth integrating at all tells you something about where the technology landscape is heading: toward a future where proving you are human is no longer something you can take for granted, even when you are looking someone in the eye.

Would you like some cheese with that iPhone? If a new rumor is true, the big new bold color for Apple’s next flagship phones will look more like red wine than bright orange.

The latest rumor comes from Macworld, which cites a leak from an unnamed source close to the supply chain. According to the leak, the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will have a dark cherry color option. The source also said that those new flagships, as well as Apple’s first foldable phone, will launch in September. 

According to different reports over the past several months, the foldable might be named the Ultra, the Fold or even the iFlip.

Apple has not officially announced anything — not the iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max, nor the foldable. There have been tons of rumors about specs and release dates, but nothing has been verified.

A representative for Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

CNET is keeping up with all the latest iPhone 18 Pro rumors, including release dates, design, colors, specs and Apple’s first foldable (and don’t always believe your eyes).

Read more: I Turned My iPhone 17 Pro From Cosmic Orange to Pink

Apple is always changing colors for its top iPhone models. You can see all the colors over the years here.

The rumor about the iPhone 18 Pro coming in dark cherry doesn’t come out of the, ahem, blue. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported several weeks ago that Apple was considering red as its new vibrant color. Last year, for the iPhone 17 Pro, the new breakout color was cosmic orange.

Macworld’s source also said that Apple is toying with two other colors for the iPhone Pro roster — light blue and a dark shade of gray. The source said Apple is also considering a silver variation of the current iPhone 17 Pro.

Macworld’s source listed these Pantone color codes as being used internally by Apple: Light Blue (Pantone 2121), Dark Cherry (Pantone 6076), Dark Gray (Pantone 426C) and Silver (Pantone 427C). Note the absence of a solid black hue, as a previous rumor suggested.

Foldable, not so colorful?

The Macworld source said the foldable might have fewer color options than the iPhone Pro 18 and Pro Max. Macworld said Apple engineers are experimenting with a classic silver-and-white model and indigo, like that of the deep blue of the iPhone 17 Pro.

Take it with a grain of salt, but Macworld’s source last year did confirm the cosmic orange that eventually was the iPhone 17 Pro color splash.

Meta’s price increase for their Quest headsets was announced just yesterday, and begin on April 19th, providing users only a little window of time to buy now and avoid a larger bill for the same hardware. The Quest 3S with 128GB of storage is currently priced at $299.99, but will increase to $349.99 on Sunday, representing a $50 difference.

The extra cash is important, though, because these headsets already give a lot without any additional hardware. Simply slip one on and you’ll be able to play games ranging from small puzzle sessions to full-on adventures. You may watch movies on a screen that feels larger than the one in your living room. You can connect with pals in shared spaces, even if one of you is on the opposite side of the nation, and everything operates directly from the device, so no cables or a powerful computer are required.

One reason users prefer to stick with their units for longer than planned is that the library of material continues to grow. New titles are released all the time, and existing games and applications receive free upgrades that add new levels or features. You may use your Quest to transform your living room into a tiny gym or to get some work done in a distraction-free environment. There is something worthwhile in there, regardless of how you spend your time.

Now, both the Quest 3S and the Quest 3 work admirably, but they serve distinct purposes. The Quest 3S provides a decent starting point, with clear video and comfortable wear for regular usage, making it ideal for informal sessions. The good news is that the accessories will remain where they are, so you can upgrade to a nicer strap, supplementary battery pack, or carrying bag without breaking the budget or encountering any unpleasant surprises later.

Meta said the price increases are due to growing memory chip costs, which are hurting the whole electronics industry. Other industries are essentially consuming all of the memory chips available, raising prices and increasing production costs. As far as they can tell, there is no immediate resolution for this problem, so the current prices feel more like a temporary gift than the new normal.

One builder showcases custom-built photobioreactor from start to finish, having printed the majority of its components on a conventional 3D printer sitting on a work surface. The final machine simply sits there silently day after day, converting water and light into useable biomass without the need for anyone to pay attention to it.

Spirulina fills the main chamber since the design ensures a consistent temperature, light, and air supply around the clock. A small initial amount of culture, roughly a gallon, expands over the next few weeks when fresh water and nutrients are introduced. The light enters from the sides, and there’s an air bubbler to keep everything mixed up and full of oxygen. Sensors are on the job, keeping an eye on things to ensure that the algae has enough to grow and reproduce swiftly, providing a few grams of dried biomass per week after the culture is fully established.

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• Full-Auto Calibration: Say goodbye to manual calibration hassles. The A1 3D printer takes care of all the calibration processes automatically…

Things begin with the Bambu Lab A1 printer laying down thermoplastic layers for the frame, tank supports, and custom fittings. Large pieces come together quickly due to automated calibration and the printer’s rapid speeds. The printed parts fit together nicely and snugly, requiring little more than a touch of tidying before assembling the entire device. Off-the-shelf pumps, lighting, and tubing are then inserted into the plastic skeleton, changing it into a sealed environment that retains the liquid inside without leaking everywhere.

When everything is more or less upright, the electronics take over. A Raspberry Pi 5 serves as the main controller, with two Arduinos acting as task specialists. One Arduino is responsible for running the lights, heating, and bubbler on a regular basis. The second only handles the automated sampling procedure, which checks the acidity levels without allowing the sensors to run dry or deviate off course. A series of USB wires transmit basic text commands back and forth to keep the entire arrangement in sync.

Measuring pH is particularly difficult since the probe must remain wet and clean between readings. So there’s a small rotating part that removes the lids off the storage vials, rinses the sensor in deionized water, and then moves it to grab a sample from the culture before returning it to the vial. A spinning pill inside a silicone tube attached to magnets to provide gentle stirring and minimize residue buildup. As a bonus, the same motion shuts up the vial, preventing evaporation. This all runs on its own tiny schedule and logs each outcome in case somebody wants to look it up later.

Data appears on a touchscreen that looks like a control panel. At a glance, graphs indicate how light intensity decreases at the bottom of the tank as algae density increases and blocks more light. The temperature readings are always displayed directly in front of you. When harvest time approaches, when the light curve finally flattens out, signaling peak concentration, the system drains a section of the culture, filtering out the good stuff while allowing the remainder to continue growing. Once harvested, the material is spread out on trays, dries in a few hours, and is pulverized into a fine green powder that can be stored or used immediately as fish food.

The biomass yield is currently around eight grams per week, which is sufficient to support a small aquaponic setup and reduce the need to purchase as much feed. Dried spirulina can also be stored for up to two years, providing a shelf-stable protein source right from your own backyard. And when your algae feed your fish, your fish waste fertilizes your plants, and your plant trimmings return to the algal culture, the entire system just keeps cycling round and round without any external assistance. Once the first culture is established, there is no need for additional inputs.

PwC research found that Irish companies are somewhat lagging behind their global peers where AI implementation and benefits are concerned.

Professional services company PwC has released data exploring how organisational leaders are navigating AI gains across a range of areas, such as growth, revenue, investment, workflows, autonomous decisions, reinventing business models and governance, and analysing where the AI leaders are driving results.

PwC collected data for a survey from 1,217 senior executives around the world, including from Ireland, at a director level or above, at companies across 25 sectors and multiple regions worldwide. 

From that information, PwC found that nearly three-quarters (74pc) of AI’s economic gains are being utilised by only 20pc of companies. According to the findings, this is indicative of a “stark and widening divide between a small group of AI leaders and the majority of businesses still stuck in pilot mode”.

Commenting on the report, David Lee, the chief technology leader for PwC Ireland, said, “Many companies are busy rolling out AI pilots, but only a minority are converting that activity into measurable financial returns.

“The leaders stand out because they point AI at growth, not just cost reduction, and back that ambition with the foundations that make AI scalable and reliable.”

Is Ireland keeping pace?

Ireland specifically was found to be falling behind its global peers when it comes to AI implementation and benefits.

Lee said: “Based on our previous studies, Irish companies do somewhat lag global peers where AI implementation and benefits are concerned.”

He added that “PwC’s 2026 Irish CEO survey reveals fewer Irish CEOs (8pc) report AI application across a range of business areas compared to global counterparts (18pc), including demand generation, products, services, experiences and strategic direction-setting”.

He noted: “Some of the benefits from AI are also taking longer to come through compared to global peers, with Irish organisations seeing the opportunities from AI, but are not yet grasping the transformative powers.

“17pc of Irish CEOs say that AI has delivered increased revenues in the past 12 months, behind global peers (29pc). Nearly a quarter (23pc) say that AI has delivered cost reductions in the past 12 months, also behind global peers (26pc).”

The companies that are leading were found to be roughly two to three times more likely to use AI to identify and pursue growth opportunities or reinvent their business model. They are also twice as likely to redesign workflows to incorporate AI rather than simply adding new AI tools.

They are nearly three times more likely to have increased the number of decisions made without human intervention and were shown to be going further in relation to AI governance. Within high-performing companies, trust at scale models were found to be effective. 

The report said, “AI leaders are more likely than other companies to have mechanisms such as a responsible AI framework (1.7 times as likely as other companies) and a cross-functional AI governance board (1.5 times). As a result of their efforts, their employees are twice as likely to trust AI outputs.”

Time for a change

PwC’s report suggested that a failure to shift the current approach to the implementation of artificial intelligence by the majority would likely widen the performance gap between AI leaders and “laggards”, particularly as leading organisations continue to learn, grow, and automate safely and speedily.  

Commenting on the results of the research, Martin Duffy, the head of AI and emerging technologies at PwC Ireland, said: “AI return on investment comes down to execution discipline – clear metrics, fast stop-or-scale decisions and designs built for reuse. Value shows up when AI is embedded in everyday workflows, not isolated pilots.”

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Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,400 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc’s Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.