WSJ Tech News Briefing: Sam Altman’s Other Startup Wants To Scan Your Eyeballs With Orbs

Release Date: March 18, 2025

Introduction

In the March 18, 2025 episode of WSJ Tech News Briefing, hosted by Victoria Craig, The Wall Street Journal delves into two pivotal topics shaping the technological landscape: the rising anxiety among teenagers due to Snapchat's new messaging features, and the ambitious venture of Sam Altman’s startup, World, which aims to revolutionize identity verification through advanced eye-scanning technology.

Snapchat's Half Swiping: A Double-Edged Sword for Teenagers

Understanding Half Swiping

The episode opens with a discussion on Snapchat's introduction of the half swiping feature, a mechanism that allows users to partially open messages without triggering a read receipt. This feature was ostensibly designed to alleviate the pressure teens feel to respond immediately to messages, providing them with a pause to craft thoughtful replies.

Julie Jargan, WSJ columnist, explains:

"[Half swiping] enables someone to take a little pause and decide when and how they want to respond without the other person knowing that they've read their message. [It was intended] to alleviate that pressure and give teens a pause to reflect on how they want to respond and to respond on their own time."
[02:09]

The Unintended Consequences

Contrary to Snapchat’s intentions, half swiping has inadvertently become a source of anxiety among teens, especially in the context of dating and early relationship stages. Elle Lehman, a Snapchat user, shares her experience:

"I've been half swiped by boys more times than I can count, and that practice is one of the most toxic parts of teen dating."
[00:33]

The anxiety stems from uncertainty—users are left wondering if they've said something wrong or when they might receive a response. This emotional turmoil is more pronounced among girls, who, as Julie Jargan notes, are often more vigilant about social interactions:

"Girls have been socialized from an early age to be caretakers and to be aware of other people's feelings... girls tend to ruminate more and be very vigilant to any signal that they might be ignored."
[03:49]

Snapchat's Response and User Reactions

In response to growing concerns, Snapchat introduced a feature for premium subscribers allowing them to see when someone has half swiped their message. This transparency aims to "level the playing field," but its effectiveness remains debated.

A teenage boy interviewed by Julie Jargan mentioned:

"I half swipe girls all the time because I want to be careful and thoughtful about my responses before messaging someone back right away."
[05:22]

While some users appreciate the control it offers, many, especially the recipients, continue to experience heightened anxiety, questioning the very efficacy of the feature.

Sam Altman’s World: Eye-Scanning Orbs for Universal Identity Verification

Introducing World and Its Vision

Transitioning from social media anxieties to groundbreaking identity verification, the episode explores World, a startup founded by Sam Altman. World aims to create a universal identity system by scanning users' irises with specialized devices known as orbs.

Sam Altman describes World’s mission:

"They are trying to scan your iris with an orb... and that creates a secure, anonymous piece of information which identifies you as a human being... this will be used even by governments."
[07:11]

Functionality and Services Offered

World aspires to be an “everything app,” akin to Asia’s WeChat and Kakao Talk, integrating services like shopping, chatting, ordering, and bill payments into a single platform. It features a mini app store where developers can offer diverse services, such as microloans in developing countries, enabled by the secure identification provided by iris scans.

Sam Altman elaborates:

"There's a company based in Argentina that's doing micro loans... they can uniquely identify people by their world id, which of course is verified by that iris scan."
[09:31]

The Orbs: Technology and Privacy Concerns

The cornerstone of World’s identity verification system is the orb—a basketball-sized device equipped with a lens that scans the user’s iris. This process generates a cryptographically secure, anonymous identifier ensuring user privacy while verifying human identity.

Sam Altman explains the orb’s design and purpose:

"Orbs are these things that look like big eyeballs... you have to stare deep into the orb and it scans your iris... it’s anonymous. But you could combine it with other identifiers to make it into an identity system."
[10:31]

Privacy and Security Implications

While World’s technology promises enhanced security and a seamless user experience, it raises significant privacy and security questions. The use of biometric data is inherently sensitive, and the potential for misuse or breaches remains a concern.

Sam Altman addresses these concerns:

"Biometrics have come a long way... engineers have figured out pretty clever ways to scan parts of our body and then create this mathematical encrypted abstraction... We're already doing this on device, right? Every time you unlock your phone with your face."
[11:56]

Despite assurances of robust security measures, critics and privacy advocates remain wary of centralized biometric databases and the implications of universal identity systems.

Conclusion

The episode of WSJ Tech News Briefing underscores the delicate balance between innovation and user well-being. While Snapchat's half swiping feature was intended to reduce social pressure, it has inadvertently escalated anxiety among teens. Meanwhile, Sam Altman’s World embarks on an ambitious journey to redefine identity verification through biometric technology, promising both convenience and raising important privacy considerations. As technology continues to evolve, the intersection of user experience and ethical responsibility remains at the forefront of industry discussions.

Notable Quotes:

• Julie Jargan on Half Swiping:

  "Half swiping is the practice of partially opening a message on Snapchat so that you can read the message without the sender getting a read receipt... It's kind of had the opposite effect for a lot of teens."
  [02:11] & [03:34]

• Sam Altman on World’s Orbs:

  "Orbs are these things that look like big eyeballs... you have to stare deep into the orb and it scans your iris."
  [10:31]

• Sam Altman on Biometrics Security:

  "Biometrics have come a long way... engineers have figured out pretty clever ways to scan parts of our body and then create this mathematical encrypted abstraction."
  [11:56]

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and expert opinions presented in the episode, providing a clear and detailed overview for those who haven't tuned in.