Zoom has announced it will introduce real-time human verification in video meetings to mitigate the growing risk of AI-driven impersonation.

The company has partnered with Sam Altman-chaired technology provider Tools for Humanity and will offer its World ID Deep Face tools in Zoom meetings, allowing organisations to confirm that attendees are genuine individuals during live interactions.

The video calling company said the integration is designed for regulated and high-stakes environments such as financial approvals, healthcare consultations and executive decision-making sessions.

Using Zoom’s Realtime Media Streams, the integration verifies that enrolled users are real humans rather than focusing solely on detecting manipulated media. Participants first enrol using World ID, which requires providing an iris scan at one of Tools for Humanity’s in-person Orb cameras. They can then complete a verification check when joining a meeting. Once confirmed, a “Verified Human” badge appears on their video tile and profile.

Zoom said the verification is conducted on-device and no personal data is shared with Zoom or other meeting participants. Additional capabilities include a Deep Face Waiting Room that requires verification before joining calls, along with on-demand checks during meetings.

The announcement comes as concerns mount over AI-enabled fraud. Zoom referenced research from Deloitte which found losses linked to AI-driven fraud in the US could rise from $12.3 billion in 2023 to $40 billion by 2027.

Zoom said the move forms part of a broader strategy to expand its open ecosystem and strengthen trust in AI-driven communications, adding that the tool’s integration complements existing security investments, including deepfake detection tools, as organisations seek multiple approaches to verifying identity in real time.

The company will launch the verification tools via the Zoom App Marketplace later this year and invite organisations to participate in early testing.

“Zoom has always prioritized security and trust as core to our platform,” said Brendan Ittelson, chief ecosystem officer at Zoom. “This collaboration expands the choices available to our customers by bringing innovative, security-enabling capabilities into the Zoom ecosystem, helping them confidently navigate the next era of AI-driven communication.”

The announcement is part of a wider pivot by Tools for Humanity’s World away from its cryptocurrency roots. World launched as Worldcoin in 2023 and claimed to offer a way to distribute funds to verifiably real people as AI became a more important segment of the economy. Last year, it announced its intention to expand its verification across popular messaging platforms including Zoom.

In the same Friday press conference that it announced its partnership with Zoom, it also revealed a partnership with dating app Tinder.

World ID has currently verified nearly 18 million humans, but has faced regulatory issues around the world over concerns about its handling of biometric data.

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