Ditch that debit card: eye-scanning tech is coming to the next generation of ATMs

By Kelly Hodgkins Published October 28, 2015

In the not-so-distant future, you might not have to tote around a wallet full of plastic cards. A new ATM being developed by Diebold and tested by Citigroup does away with the physical card concept and instead allows a user to authorize the withdrawal of money from an account using iris-scan biometric technology and a smartphone. The machine is one of two new concepts being presented at the Money20/20 conference this week in Las Vegas.

Called “Irving,” the self serve machines dispenses cash using a user’s smartphone screen, eliminating the need for a card reader, a pin pad or even as screen on the ATM machine. As a result, the ATM machine is significantly smaller than most standard ATM machines. To withdraw cash, users simply approach the machine, which will connect to their smartphone via NFC or similar secure wireless technology. An iris scan is then used to confirm the identity of the person making the withdrawal. Once a user’s identity is verified, the machine then can dispense cash in a transaction that takes about 10 seconds to complete. The system now is being tested by Citigroup at the bank’s innovation lab in New York.

Diebold, Incorporated's screenless self-service Irving concept (PRNewsFoto/Diebold, Incorporated) — Diebold, Incorporated’s screenless self-service Irving concept (PRNewsFoto/Diebold, Incorporated) Diebold

Though the machine offers lightening fast withdrawals and a small footprint for installation, it remains to be seen whether consumers will consent to having their eyeballs scanned in order to access their cash. It may be the younger generation who adopt the technology first and drive its expansion. According to a 2015 survey of 2,000 UK adults by Visa Europe, 76 percent of 16- to 24-year-olds said they would be comfortable authorizing a payment using some form of biometric technology. Most (70 percent) would prefer a fingerprint scan as their primary form of identification, while 39 percent would use a retina scan.

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Diebold also is developing a second machine called Janus that would replace a teller inside a bank. The single machine offers dual terminals that can service two customers at the same time. The terminal includes a touch screen for advanced account access and video teller support to help with complex transactions. Neither of these systems are ready for primetime just yet, but keep your fingers crossed and we might see them hit city streets in the next few years.

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Kelly's been writing online for ten years, working at Gizmodo, TUAW, and BGR among others. Living near the White Mountains of…

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What happened to Amazon’s inaugural Project Kuiper launch?

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Amazon is aiming to take on SpaceX’s Starlink internet service using thousands of its own Project Kuiper satellites in low-Earth orbit.

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EVs top gas cars in German reliability report — but one weak spot won’t quit

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Electric vehicles are quietly crushing old stereotypes about being delicate or unreliable, and the data now backs it up in a big way. According to Germany’s ADAC — Europe’s largest roadside assistance provider — EVs are actually more reliable than their internal combustion engine (ICE) counterparts. And this isn’t just a small study — it’s based on a staggering 3.6 million breakdowns in 2024 alone.
For cars registered between 2020 and 2022, EVs averaged just 4.2 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles, while ICE cars saw more than double that, at 10.4 per 1,000. Even with more EVs hitting the road, they only accounted for 1.2% of total breakdowns — a big win for the battery-powered crowd.
Among standout performers, some cars delivered exceptionally low breakdown rates. The Audi A4 clocked in at just 0.4 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles for 2022 models, with Tesla’s Model 3 right behind at 0.5. The Volkswagen ID.4, another popular EV, also impressed with a rate of 1.0 – as did the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross at 1.3. On the flip side, there were some major outliers: the Hyundai Ioniq 5 showed a surprisingly high 22.4 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles for its 2022 models, while the hybrid Toyota RAV4 posted 18.4.
Interestingly, the most common issue for both EVs and ICE vehicles was exactly the same: the humble 12-volt battery. Despite all the futuristic tech in EVs, it’s this old-school component that causes 50% of all EV breakdowns, and 45% for gas-powered cars. Meanwhile, EVs shine in categories like engine management and electrical systems — areas where traditional engines are more complex and failure-prone.
But EVs aren’t completely flawless. They had a slightly higher rate of tire-related issues — 1.3 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles compared to 0.9 for ICE cars. That could be due to their heavier weight and high torque, which can accelerate tire wear. Still, this trend is fading in newer EVs as tire tech and vehicle calibration improve.
Now, zooming out beyond Germany: a 2024 Consumer Reports study in the U.S. painted a different picture. It found that EVs, especially newer models, had more reliability issues than gas cars, citing tech glitches and inconsistent build quality. But it’s worth noting that the American data focused more on owner-reported problems, not just roadside breakdowns.
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You can now lease a Hyundai EV on Amazon—and snag that $7,500 tax credit

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Amazon has changed how we shop for just about everything—from books to furniture to groceries. Now, it’s transforming the way we lease cars. Through Amazon Autos, you can now lease a brand-new Hyundai entirely online—and even better, you’ll qualify for the full $7,500 federal tax credit if you choose an electric model like the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, or Kona EV.
Here’s why that matters: As of January 2025, Hyundai’s EVs no longer qualify for the tax credit if you buy them outright, due to strict federal rules about battery sourcing and final assembly. But when you lease, the vehicle is technically owned by the leasing company (Hyundai Capital), which allows it to be classified as a “commercial vehicle” under U.S. tax law—making it eligible for the credit. That savings is typically passed on to you in the form of lower lease payments.
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It’s available in 68 markets across the U.S., and pricing is fully transparent—no hidden fees or haggling. While Hyundai is so far the only automaker fully participating, more are expected to join over time.
Pioneered by the likes of Tesla, purchasing or leasing vehicles online has been a growing trend since the Covid pandemic.
A 2024 study by iVendi found that 74% of car buyers expect to use some form of online process for their next purchase. In fact, 75% said online buying met or exceeded expectations, with convenience and access to information cited as top reasons. The 2024 EY Mobility Consumer Index echoed this trend, reporting that 25% of consumers now plan to buy their next vehicle online—up from 18% in 2021. Even among those who still prefer to finalize the purchase at a dealership, 87% use online tools for research beforehand.
Meanwhile, Deloitte’s 2025 Global Automotive Consumer Study reveals that while 86% of U.S. consumers still want to test-drive a vehicle in person, digital tools are now a critical part of the buying journey.
Bottom line? Amazon is making it easier than ever to lease an EV and claim that tax credit—without the dealership hassle. If you're ready to plug in, it might be time to add to cart.