What’s Happening: A group of tech entrepreneurs, including OpenAI founder Sam Altman, is hatching a plan to create unique digital identities for everyone in the world by scanning their irises with high-tech orbs to verify one’s humanity in the age of rampant deepfakes. According to security experts, it’s a tricky proposition.

The Download: They’ve been likened to bowling balls conceived by Steve Jobs and mini Jeff Koons sculptures, but the mirrored spheres that have popped up from New York and Paris to São Paulo actually herald the launch of Worldcoin, an ambitious AI initiative to create digital identities called World IDs for the entire population. The grapefruit-sized gizmos, developed by Tools for Humanity and ex-Apple designer Thomas Meyerhoffer, scan one’s irises, converting their biometric image into a one-of-a-kind string of numbers called an IrisCode. When combined with an algorithm, the code verifies one’s humanity via a smartphone app.

Envisioned three years ago by Alex Blania and Sam Altman, the CEO of ChatGPT parent company OpenAI, the plan intends to create “a new identity and financial network connecting billions of people in the age of AI.” Worldcoin is pitching the identities as a secure way to prove one’s personhood in an era of rampant AI deepfakes. More than two million people have opted to scan their irises—a process that involves gazing into the orb’s surface—in the project’s beta phase, which saw 1,500 of the devices built. Volunteers also receive crypto tokens called Worldcoin, which started trading this week and are valued at $2.

Though Worldcoin claims the orb is secure, experts caution against divulging biometric data to third parties. Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin penned a lengthy blog post acknowledging the need for proof of personhood and ramped-up security, but called out Worldcoin’s potential shortfalls, including the nightmarish risk of hacks, ID-selling, and 3-D printing fake people. Convincing people that Worldcoin won’t exacerbate such dystopian scenarios will be one of the founders’ biggest uphill battles. Plunging crypto markets and alleged investments by fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried also aren’t doing the project any favors. Noted whistleblower Edward Snowden kept his thoughts fairly concise: “Don’t catalogue eyeballs.”

In Their Own Words: “Worldcoin is an attempt at global scale alignment,” the founders wrote in a statement. “The journey will be challenging and the outcome is uncertain. But finding new ways to broadly share the coming technological prosperity is a critical challenge of our time.”

Surface Says: Something about assigning everyone a serial number seems unnerving.

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Daunt’s Albatross has held strong as a mainstay of breezy Montauk cool for generations. The family-owned motel, a beloved escape among beach-obsessed regulars, recently underwent a refresh at the hands of Home Studios founder Oliver Haslegrave, enlivening the property’s ‘70s decor to a tasteful mix of nostalgic and new nodding to its relaxed shoreline setting. So when it came time for third-generation proprietors (and siblings) Leo and Zoe Daunt to update the lively neighborhood joint Bird on the Roof to The Bird, the hotel’s sister business in a quaint A-frame across the street, he opted for a similar approach.

That was hardly a challenge for Haslegrave, whose firm has crafted some of New York’s most cult-favorite bars and restaurants. First on the menu was capturing the 40-year-old eatery’s laid-back vibe and home-away-from-home ethos, which he achieved through a calming material palette—reclaimed timber, glazed ceramic tiles, white-washed plaster—and oceanic shades that forge a seaside ambiance. Chef Marcos Martinez Perez conceived a seasonally rotating menu befitting the updated look: think tempura trumpet mushrooms with gochujang sauce and green curry with scallops. Pair them with Sophia DePasquale’s specialty cocktails (try the Hallie Parker, a killer blend of gin, Prosecco, St. Germain, strawberry, and lemon) for an unforgettable foray into the spirit of old Montauk.

In the heart of Aarhus, Denmark, the stormwear brand Rains has unveiled a bold revamp of its flagship store, a fusion of minimalist design and avant-garde artistry. The boutique, originally opened in 2016, now features industrial elements such as graffiti and stainless steel hardware, punctuated by custom works from local artists. The pièce de résistance is a sprawling, blob-like sculpture by Danish artist Jacob Egebjerg, which engulfs the cash desk in a playful twist on retail convention.

Crafted from polystyrene foam, the sculpture mimics a liquid cascade frozen mid-splash—a clever homage to the brand’s rainwear. The rest of the interior maintains a cool, restrained minimalism, with display cases of transparent glass and large-format concrete tiles underfoot. A graffiti piece by artist Peter Birk adds a splash of color, while a custom black carpet with a distressed patina effect provides a touch of softness amidst the industrial aesthetic.

When: Until Sept. 3

Where: Walker Art Center, Minneapolis

What: Abad’s first retrospective spans her 32-year career as an exuberant artist known for her trapuntos, quilted paintings created by stitching and stuffing canvases. Across more than 100 artworks, including textiles, works on paper, costumes, and ceramics, the show highlights her exploration of subjects from vibrant masks to intricate underwater scenes and abstract compositions. Abad’s art also holds a strong political and social responsibility, addressing the immigrant experience and giving visibility to oppressed peoples.

Ulla Johnson’s dresses and feminine separates are often realized in such vibrant hues and intricate patterns that they evoke the reverie of endless summer, no matter the time of year. Now, the legions of women who don her romantic ensembles everywhere from the gala circuit and art parties to en plein air festivities can bring the magic in with Johnson’s recent tabletop collaboration with Cabana. The high summer capsule includes Murano glass votives, embroidered table linens, and the promise of exquisitely styled meals spent with one’s nearest and dearest. From $60

EssilorLuxottica, the owner of Ray-Ban and Oakley eyewear brands, is facing a lawsuit accusing them of conspiring with competitors to raise prices by up to 1,000 percent. The world’s largest eyewear company allegedly spearheaded the price-fixing scheme in the U.S., making illegal agreements with Frames for America and For Eyes Optical. The complaint alleges that EssilorLuxottica’s subsidiary, EyeMed, engaged in anti-competitive agreements with eyecare providers to drive consumers into purchasing their overpriced eyewear. Around 20 other eyewear makers were also implicated in the proposed class action suit.

Wolf-Gordon is an American design brand dedicated to enabling the creation of outstanding interiors. Founded in 1967 as a wallcovering resource, the high-performing product line now includes upholstery textiles, RAMPART wall protection, and Wink dry-erase surfaces.

Surface Says: The level of artistry and craftsmanship that Wolf-Gordon brings to every textile is remarkable for a machine-made fabric. Its artist collaborations, including Aliki van der Kruijs, Mae Engelgeer, and Frank Tjepkema, bring mastery to each bespoke design.

Even Big Bird roasted Elon Musk’s controversial Twitter rebranding to X.

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Revisit the radical ideas from Daido Moriyama’s legendary Tokyo gallery.