Accessibility StatementSkip Navigation Dan Ives, renowned technology and AI expert and Wall Street analyst, to serve as Chairman of the Board In an increasingly agentic world, World is delivering critical "Proof of Human" (PoH) World currently has created nearly 16 million zero knowledge Proof of Human accounts in over 45 countries "If we succeed on our mission, World might become the largest network of real people online, fundamentally changing how we interact and transact throughout the Internet,"Â says S ...

Core Points - MEDIROM Healthcare Technologies Inc. is participating in the "World" project, aimed at creating a digital infrastructure for "proof of humanness" in the AI era [2][3] - The company plans to install the World ID authentication device, "Orb," in approximately 100 Re.Ra.Ku relaxation salons, targeting access for up to 500,000 individuals [3][4] - Customers verifying their World ID can claim around 8,000 Japanese yen in Worldcoin tokens (WLD), which can be used to purchase gift certificates for Re.Ra.Ku salons [4] - Upon launching the program, the company intends to acquire WLD when customers purchase Re.Ra.Ku Tickets, with plans to exchange up to 50% of acquired WLD for Ethereum (ETH) [5] - The company aims to integrate next-generation digital infrastructure to create new value and achieve sustainable growth beyond traditional healthcare [6] Company Overview - MEDIROM operates over 300 relaxation salons in Japan under the "Re.Ra.Ku" brand, along with five other brands offering various health and wellness services [9] - The company provides health guidance and physical improvement programs through its healthcare app "Lav" and has expanded into device business with the "MOTHER Bracelet" [11] - Established in July 2000, MEDIROM is headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo, and is listed on NASDAQ under the ticker MRM [12]

Core Viewpoint - OpenAI's co-founder Sam Altman is planning to invest in a brain-computer interface company called Merge Labs, which is seen as a direct competition to Elon Musk's Neuralink [1][9]. Group 1: Company Overview - Merge Labs is co-founded by Sam Altman and physicist Alex Blania, with a valuation of $850 million and an initial funding round of $250 million [3]. - The company aims to explore the integration of humans and machines, a concept Altman has been advocating since 2017 [3]. - Merge Labs may focus on cognitive enhancement and human-AI symbiosis rather than direct medical applications, differentiating itself from Neuralink's primary focus on treating medical conditions [11]. Group 2: Background of Co-founders - Alex Blania has a background in physics and industrial engineering and co-founded Tools for Humanity with Altman, focusing on digital identity and blockchain [4]. - Tools for Humanity's key project, WorldCoin, aims to create a unique digital identity through biometric verification [6]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Neuralink, founded in 2016, has made significant progress in brain-computer interface technology, with a valuation exceeding $10 billion after raising $650 million in June [10]. - Altman and Musk have engaged in public disputes, indicating a competitive rivalry between their respective companies [8][9].

Core Viewpoint - OpenAI's co-founder Sam Altman is planning to invest in a new brain-computer interface company, Merge Labs, which is seen as a direct competitor to Elon Musk's Neuralink [1][6]. Group 1: Company Overview - Merge Labs is co-founded by Sam Altman and physicist Alex Blania, with a valuation of $850 million and an initial funding round of $250 million, primarily from OpenAI's venture capital arm [2]. - The company aims to explore the integration of human and machine through brain-computer interfaces, a concept Altman has advocated since 2017 [2][3]. Group 2: Background of Founders - Alex Blania, co-founder of Merge Labs, has a background in physics and industrial engineering and previously co-founded Tools for Humanity, focusing on digital identity and blockchain [3]. - Tools for Humanity has developed WorldCoin, which includes a biometric device called "Orb" for unique human identity verification [5]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Neuralink, founded in 2016, has made significant advancements in brain-computer interface technology, with a valuation exceeding $10 billion after raising $650 million in June [7]. - While Neuralink focuses on medical applications, Merge Labs is positioned to address broader cognitive enhancement and human-AI symbiosis, differentiating its approach from Neuralink's medical focus [7][8]. Group 4: Strategic Implications - Merge Labs may integrate WorldCoin's digital verification with brain-computer interface technology to tackle fundamental issues related to identity, privacy, and economic sustainability in the AI era [8].

Group 1: Microsoft - Microsoft shares increased by 7% in premarket trading following strong FQ3 results, with Azure revenue growth of 33%, surpassing market expectations of 31% [3] - The company reported a 20% year-over-year rise in Microsoft Cloud revenue and forecasted continued strength in its cloud and AI businesses through Q4 and into fiscal 2026 [3] Group 2: Meta Platforms - Meta Platforms' shares rose by 5% after reporting a robust Q1 performance, with revenue increasing by 16% year-over-year and profits surging by 35% [4] - The operating margin expanded to 41% from 38% a year earlier, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg highlighting strong business momentum and advancements in AI [4] - Daily active users on the Family of Apps grew by 6% to 3.43 billion, exceeding expectations, while ad impressions rose by 5% year-over-year and the average price per ad increased by 10% [4] Group 3: Tesla - Tesla's board chair Robyn Denholm refuted reports of a CEO search, asserting confidence in Elon Musk's leadership [6] - Analyst Dan Ives suggested that the board's statement was a warning regarding recent issues but believes Musk will remain CEO for at least another five years [7] Group 4: Tools for Humanity - Tools for Humanity, co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, is launching biometric ID technology in six U.S. cities, including San Francisco and Los Angeles [8] - The initiative aims to create a global identity system through iris scanning in exchange for cryptocurrency and digital IDs [8] - Partnerships with Visa and Match Group were also announced to enhance the project's reach [9] Group 5: Amazon - Amazon shares climbed by 4% after announcing a $4 billion investment to expand its rural delivery network across small-town America [11] - The investment aims to improve delivery speed and reach, with earnings expected to be reported later [11]