Zoom will now verify whether you are a human or an AI impersonator during video calls.

      Biometric badges, iris scans, and AI bouncers: welcome to the future of your Monday morning standup.

      Zoom video calls have introduced a new level of awkwardness with a small feature. The platform now prompts users to confirm whether they are human. It has collaborated with World, Sam Altman’s iris-scanning identity firm (previously known as Worldcoin), to incorporate real-time human verification during meetings.

      Launched on April 17, 2026, this feature is part of World’s ID 4.0 rollout, allowing hosts to verify that every individual on the call is a real person and not an AI-generated imitation.

      How does the “verified human” badge function?

      For those curious about how World’s Deep Face technology operates, it entails a three-step process. It cross-checks a signed image from the user's initial Orb registration, a live facial scan from the user's device, and the frame of the video visible to other meeting participants.

      Only when all three samples align does the “Verified Human” badge appear next to the user's name. It seems strange and ironic to me that I need to validate my humanity just to be acknowledged as such in a Zoom meeting.

      Hosts can also require Deep Face verification for meeting participation, effectively preventing unverified users from joining. Additionally, mid-call checks can be conducted on the spot. So, if you suspect your colleague appears suspicious or simply want to unsettle someone, you can request a real-time check.

      Why is this necessary?

      The answer is straightforward: deepfake fraud has evolved from being a rarity discussed among acquaintances to a significant threat. In early 2024, engineering company Arup suffered a $25 million loss when an employee in Hong Kong approved wire transfers during a video call, where everyone except the victim turned out to be a deepfake.

      A similar incident occurred with a multinational firm in Singapore in 2025. Furthermore, deepfake-related fraud losses exceeded $200 million in the first quarter of last year alone. The threat is not a distant possibility; it is a reality that an increasing number of individuals and businesses are confronting.

      The trend is clear: biometric verification is becoming a standard practice in the workplace.

      For over five years, Shikhar has consistently simplified advancements in consumer technology and presented them…

      You won’t believe it, but Motorola has surprisingly crafted an eye-catching laptop.

      Motorola’s Moto Book 60 Pro is unexpectedly stylish, and its pricing makes it even more appealing.

      Motorola is not the brand I anticipate seeing on a genuinely solid laptop. A stylish phone? Absolutely. A foldable device with character? You bet. But a slim and lightweight notebook that balances design and value effectively was a genuine surprise. Yet, the Moto Book 60 Pro stands out as one of the more commendable laptops in its category.

      In a troubled laptop market, Motorola's offerings feel refreshing, capable, attractive, and approachable at a time when prices elsewhere have become increasingly daunting.

      Google just made another of Gemini's valuable features available to all users for free: the Notebooks feature.

      Previously exclusive to paid AI subscribers, Gemini Notebooks are now accessible to all free users on the web. If you frequently use Gemini, this is a significant development.

      Google’s new desktop mode demonstrates that Samsung DeX was onto something.

      Android 16 finally introduces a genuine desktop mode for Pixel phones, yet Google’s long-awaited feature largely underscores that Samsung has spent years perfecting the complexities involved.

      I have eagerly anticipated Android's serious take on desktop mode for years. Back in 2019, I purchased a OnePlus 7 Pro and wasted an embarrassing amount of time trying to force its rudimentary desktop mode into something functional. It made complete sense to me then; phones were already incredibly powerful, and the idea of having one real computer in my pocket felt less like science fiction and more like overdue practicality.