Latest news with #WorldID
Gizmodo
6 hours ago
- Business
- Gizmodo
Reddit Looks to Get in Bed With Altman's Creepy ‘World ID' Orbs for User Verification
Gaze into the Orb if you want your upvotes. According to a report from Semafor, Reddit is actively considering partnering with World ID, the verification system co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, to perform user verification on its platform. Per the report, Reddit's potential partnership with World ID would allow users to verify that they are human by staring into one of World ID's eye-scanning orbs. Once confirmed to be a real person, users would be able to continue using Reddit without revealing anything about their identity. Currently, Reddit only does verification via email, which has been insufficient to combat the litany of incoming AI-powered bots that are flooding the platform. Gizmodo reached out to both Reddit and World ID for details of the potential partnership. Reddit declined to comment. A spokesperson for World said, 'We don't have anything to share at this time; however, we do see value in proof of human being a key part of online experiences, including social, and welcome all of the opportunities possible to discuss this technology with potential partners.' For those unfamiliar, World is somewhere between a verification system and a crypto scheme. World ID is a method for verifying that a person is a human without requiring them to provide additional personal information—something the company calls 'anonymous proof of human.' It offers several verification techniques, but the most notable is its eye-scanning Orb. The company claims that neither 'verification data, nor iris photos or iris codes' are ever revealed, but going through the scan gets you a World ID, which can be used on a platform like Reddit, should it partner with World on this endeavor. Somewhere in the backend of this whole thing is a cryptocurrency called Worldcoin, which you theoretically can use at major retailers—but like, can you really? Is anyone doing that? The founders of World, Altman and Alex Bania, launched the crypto part of the program with the intention of building an 'AI-funded' universal basic income. Mostly, it's made local governments really mad and has been at the center of legal and regulatory investigations into how it's handling user data. It's largely targeted developing nations for its early launches, and used some dubious practices along the way to get people to demo the system. Also, it's probably not technically illegal, but it does seem pretty convenient that Sam Altman offers a 'solve' for a problem that his other company, OpenAI, is in no small part responsible for. Almost seems like he knew what issues he was about to cause and decided to cash in on both ends. Must be nice.
The Verge
a day ago
- The Verge
Reddit reportedly explores verifying users with Sam Altman's eyeball scanner.
Reddit reportedly explores verifying users with Sam Altman's eyeball scanner. Sources tell Semafor that Reddit wants to combat AI bots using World ID, the cryptocurrency and human identification project co-founded by Altman. It uses an iris scanner known as the Orb to assign people a World ID, which Semafor says Reddit could use to verify human users while keeping them anonymous.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Chip equipment stocks fall after US plans to revoke China waivers
-- Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE:TSM) stock fell 2%, Lam Research (NASDAQ:LRCX) shares tumbled 5%, and Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT) dropped 4% following reports that a U.S. official plans to revoke technology waivers for chipmakers operating in China. Jeffrey Kessler, who leads the export controls unit at the Commerce Department, has informed major semiconductor manufacturers including Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Samsung Electronics (KS:005930), and SK Hynix of his intention to cancel blanket waivers that currently allow them to ship American chip-making equipment to their factories in China without applying for separate licenses each time, according to the Wall Street Journal. The potential policy change is reportedly part of the Trump administration's broader efforts to restrict critical U.S. technology from going to China. If implemented, the move could create significant disruption both diplomatically and economically, coming shortly after the U.S. and China established a trade truce in London. White House officials have stated that this action would not represent a new trade escalation but would instead align the licensing system for chip equipment with China's existing system for rare-earth materials. They added that the U.S. and China continue to make progress on completing their London agreement. "Chip makers will still be able to operate in China. The new enforcement mechanisms on chips mirror licensing requirements that apply to other semiconductor companies that export to China and ensure the United States has an equal and reciprocal process," a Commerce Department spokesman said. The semiconductor equipment sector is particularly vulnerable to changes in U.S.-China trade policy, as many companies rely on access to the Chinese market for significant portions of their revenue. Related articles Chip equipment stocks fall after US plans to revoke China waivers QXO won't participate in bidding war for GMS - source Reddit in talks to use Sam Altman's World ID for user verification - Semafor
The Verge
a day ago
- The Verge
Posted Jun 20, 2025 at 2:51 PM EDT
Reddit reportedly explores verifying users with Sam Altman's eyeball scanner. Sources tell Semafor that Reddit wants to combat AI bots using World ID, the cryptocurrency and human identification project co-founded by Altman. It uses an iris scanner known as the Orb to assign people a World ID, which Semafor says Reddit could use to verify human users while keeping them anonymous. In addition to World ID, Reddit would also allow users to verify themselves with 'many' other options, according to Semafor.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
QXO won't participate in bidding war for GMS
-- Shares of GMS Inc (NYSE:GMS) are surging over 26% higher on Friday as a potential bidding war is brewing for the distributor of building products. However, the company that helped put the company in play, QXO Inc (NYSE:QXO), is not willing to entertain such a process to acquire the company, according to a source familiar with the matter. On Wednesday evening, QXO, run by deal-savvy Brad Jacobs, went public with an all-cash offer of $95.20 per share for GMS. The ante was raised after the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that Home Depot Inc (NYSE:HD) has submitted its own offer for GMS, although the price Home Depot is willing to pay could not be learned. GMS, for its part, said it would review the QXO offer, which it described as 'unsolicited.' GMS has not commented on the potential Home Depot offer but said it is working with investment bank Jefferies LLC. Despite the QXO bid being viewed as unsolicited, Jacobs disclosed in a letter that he met with GMS CEO John Turner in May of this year and that his company has been 'studying GMS for over a year.' QXO is just coming off the closing of its $11 billion deal for Beacon Roofing Supply (NASDAQ:BECN), which analysts have described as its 'cornerstone acquisition.' The Beacon deal is seen as part of the reason GMS is now 'in play.' The other reason is that home building is expected to be a stable and growing industry in the U.S., and the industry is relatively AI-proof. In the letter, Jacobs noted that GMS has seen a 'meaningful changes in the volume and trading levels of GMS shares since our announcement to acquire Beacon Roofing Supply.' In addition, analysts have noted that GMS was a potential takeover target. 'With respect to the takeover speculation in the stock, we also note the steep rise in your share price following our meeting on May 22, 2025, in New York, as well as a research report by Raymond James, which resulted from a non-deal roadshow with you and your CFO, stating that GMS was a likely acquisition target and GMS's management was willing to entertain a sale,' Jacobs said in the letter. He also commented on rumors from industry participants that bankers had been 'aggressively marketing the Company for sale.' If a bidding war between QXO and Home Depot does ensue, Wall Street analysts expect Home Depot to come out on top. 'QXO has a history of "one and done" offers for companies while HD, in our view, may be willing to pay a higher multiple,' Truist Securities analyst Keith Hughes said on Friday while raising his price target to $105 per share. GMS last traded at $102.66 per share. Related articles QXO won't participate in bidding war for GMS - source Reddit in talks to use Sam Altman's World ID for user verification - Semafor Regulators clear Canadian Natural's SLB acquisition after divestiture agreement Sign in to access your portfolio
