Worldcoin Rebrands as 'World', Unveils New Iris-Scanning Orb Amid Expansion Plans

Sam Altman’s Creepy Worldcoin Project Is Now Just Called â€~World’

In between running the most powerful AI company in the world, tech billionaire Sam Altman has a number of side projects. One of them is Worldcoin, the crypto-laced effort to scan the global population's eyeballs. Why does this need to happen? Worldcoin envisions a new global economic system in which people use unique digital IDs, culled from their iris scans, to pay for stuff online and verify their identities. In a world of bots and AI content, digital IDs will help verify who is human and who isn't, the project's backers say. If that sounds cool, it also sounds pretty funny, since it would appear that Altman's other company, OpenAI, isâ€"by fueling the spread of AI-generated digital fakeryâ€"helping to cause the very problem that Worldcoin purports to solve. Anyway, this week, Worldcoin announced a revamp to its business. Not only is the company changing its name (it's simply called "World" now, the firm's website states), but it's also rolling out a brand new "Orb" that is smaller, less bulky, and supposedly faster and more efficient. "The Orb is the incluse, secure and anonymous device that enables World ID holders to verify their humanness and uniqueness," the company's blog reads. "In its newest iteration, the Orb is equipped with the most advanced NVIDIA Jetson module with nearly 5x the AI performance over the previous version to enable even faster, more seamless proof of human verifications." In other words, this version of the Orb is faster and works better. Still, that doesn't rid the company of its chief problem, which is that people probably don't want to surrender their biometric data (if only temporarily) to a company that has the same aesthetics and PR tenor as the Delos corporation from Westworld. The updates to the company were announced this week at an event in San Francisco, where Rich Heley, an executive connected to the project said: “To provide access to every human, we need more Orbs. Lots more Orbs. Probably on the order of a thousand times more Orbs than we have today. Not only more Orbs but more Orbs in more places.†More Orbs! When the project first debuted, Gizmodo reviewed the experience of signing up for Worldcoin and found the enterprise to be "boring," "unquestionably dystopian" and "cynical" â€"a sentiment others seem to agree with. Worldcoin (er, World now) really hasn't caught on with the masses quite yet, despite the fact that the company claims it has over 2 million sign-ups, which it achieved by paying people small amounts of crypto. That said, World plans to expand. The company announced this week that it will roll out its dystopic hardware to a number of new countries, including Costa Rica, Brazil, Indonesia, Panama, the UAE, Morocco, Taiwan, Australia, Hungary, and Romania. Despite the company's promises that it doesn't store your biometric data and despite the nice and friendly tenor of the company's advertising materials, and despite the fact that World currently isn't asking for anything but your participation... it's still just hard to shake the nagging feeling that we're all being buttered up for something weird and bad.

Sam Altman's Worldcoin becomes World, and shows new iris-scanning Orb to prove your humanity

Worldcoin, the Sam Altman co-founded "proof of personhood" crypto startup that scans people's eyeballs, announced on Thursday that it dropped the "coin" from its name and is now just "World." The startup also unveiled its next generation of iris-scanning "Orb" and other tools at a live event in San Francisco. Co-founder and CEO of World, Alex Blania, said the startup's old name "just doesn't work anymore," potentially signaling the startup is looking to expand its identity beyond its original cryptocurrency mission. (Eye-scanning initially was seen as a way to get access to Worldcoins, though the founders say this never happened.) OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, spends a good chunk of his time working at World, Blania told TechCrunch during a press conference, but said the two startups' missions are independent from each other. However, Blania didn't rule out that World's cryptocurrency could be incorporated into ChatGPT one day. "Well, he's a co founder and he's been so from the beginning. So, we talk a couple times a week. He's involved in all the decisions," Blania told TechCrunch. "Of course, he's focused on OpenAI," Blania continued. "How tied is World's success to OpenAI? I think actually not at all. I think these are two very separate missions, and I think AI is heading where it's heading, and we think what we built here is very important infrastructure for the world, and that will not change." World is predicated on the idea that advanced AI systems - like the one Altman's OpenAI is trying to build - will one day make it impossible to tell whether or not you are talking to a human online. Its solution is "human verification services" based around blockchain. The startup also promises to make the benefits of AI accessible to everyone, potentially by redistributing the wealth generated by AI to people through its Worldcoins. If all this sounds a bit dubious, you're not the only one who thinks so. Governments around the world - including Kenya and countries in the EU - have probed and suspended Worldcoin over the years over privacy, security, and financial concerns. Some of those EU investigations are ongoing, and World's fate there remains uncertain. Altman and Blania detailed World's four-step roadmap onstage Thursday. The first and second steps -- developing the Orb and building a distributed ownership network with blockchain -- are already done, he said. The last step is redistributing the benefits of AI, but before we get to that, we have to complete the third step: scale. World had several announcements on Thursday, including the launch of a new blockchain and a new app, but they all revolved around scaling up the company's 7 million verified humans to something much larger. In order to do that, World needs to scan more eyeballs across the globe. And to that end, the company unveiled its next generation Orb on Thursday. The startup promised everyone (including TechCrunch) attending the live event would receive an Orb to take home, though it's not immediately clear how individuals would put it to use. The new Orb is easier to mass produce, has fewer parts, and operates three times faster. World says people will soon be able verify themselves at coffee shops, and announced a partnership with the #1 delivery service in Latin America, Rappi, so people can schedule a home Orb verification. Also on Thursday, World unveiled Deep Face, a attempt to combat online deepfakes and impersonation using the company's human-verification services. The startup said Deep Face could be used to augment apps like Facetime, Zoom, and X, but provided no details on how that would happen. The startup also announced a beta of its World ID credential, an alternative to government IDs for use online. They aren't meant to replace national IDs, an executive clarified during a press conference, but could let people verify their identities online without giving up too much extraneous information, like they might by uploading a driver's license or passport. Adoption may be an obstacle for World moving forward. At the event, World asked guests to verify their own identity by presenting their government issued ID. Trusting a cryptocurrency company with your identity is a big ask for most people, but especially one led by Sam Altman, who is notorious for lying to OpenAI's board.

Sam Altman's eyeball-scanning crypto project has a new Orb and a new name

Worldcoin, the cryptocurrency / human identity network / UBI project co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, is now known as World. Along with the name change, World introduced an updated version of its eyeball-scanning Orb device which is designed to solve a problem that does not currently exist: authenticating that someone is human "in the age of AI." People registered to the system get a World ID that they can use to "securely and anonymously" prove their humanness online, as well as a share of its associated WLD cryptocurrency token. The new Orb is made with 30 percent fewer parts than its predecessor, which is supposed to make it easier and cheaper to build, and equipped with Nvidia's robotics and AI platform, Jetson, for some reason. Rich Heley, the chief device officer of Tools for Humanity -- the foundation behind the World project -- said during an event on Thursday that the simplified design should help achieve the goal of making the Orb widely available. "To provide access to every human, we need more Orbs. Lots more Orbs. Probably on the order of a thousand times more Orbs than we have today," Heley said. "Not only more Orbs but more Orbs in more places." In addition to ramping up production of the Orb, World will even let people purchase or rent their very own eyeball-scanning sphere so they can "start verifying unique humans" in their communities. It's also launching a new service called "Orb on Demand" (yes, it's really called that) that will let people order Orbs "much like a pizza you would have delivered to your apartment," Heley said. The Orb is also coming to more countries, including Costa Rica, Brazil, Indonesia, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and others. While World's ID services are available in the US, its cryptocurrency token isn't, as our own Alex Heath noted when he was scanned last summer. World says it has verified nearly 7 million "unique humans" so far, despite privacy concerns about building a privately operated global database based on biometrics.

Sam Altman's iris-scanning crypto project, rebranded to 'World'

Disclaimer: This content generated by AI & may have errors or hallucinations. Edit before use. Read our Terms of use Worldcoin, the Sam-Altman co-founded "proof of personhood" company, has rebranded to "World", reported Reuters. The company aims to widen its worldwide mission. Co-founder and CEO of Tools for Humanity (the start-up behind the World project), Alex Blania, said the project's old name "just doesn't work anymore," signaling the company's interests to expand its identity beyond its original cryptocurrency mission. It now intends to focus more on its "human verification system", the company said at an event in San Francisco. At the event, Tools for Humanity also introduced its next generation of iris-scanning "Orbs" and other innovations. Altman said that World was ramping up efforts to scan every human's iris using its "orb" devices. The core of the company's offering is its World ID, which it describes as a "digital passport". This 'passport' intends to prove that its holder is a real human and tells the difference with AI chatbots online. To apply for a World ID, a customer signs up to an in-person iris scan, using the "orb" - a silver ball approximately the size of a bowling ball. Once the "orb" verifies that the person is a real human, it creates the World ID. Sometimes, participants are rewarded with a cryptocurrency token called WLD. Over 6.9 million people have signed up to have their irises scanned, since the project launched in July 2023. Altman co-founded Tools for Humanity in 2019, the same year he became OpenAI's CEO. Tools for Humanity, which develops World's technology, has secured around $200 million from investors like Blockchain Capital, Distributed Global, and the crypto funds of Bain Capital and Andreessen Horowitz. When questioned at the event about whether he created the problem he's now addressing, Altman replied, "I don't see it as creating a problem to solve." He noted that they recognised early on the importance of authenticating personhood for various reasons, with AI being just one aspect. Furthermore, World announced several upgrades, including a more advanced Orb, a spherical computer for iris scanning. The new Orb features Nvidia's latest Jetson chipset, boasting nearly five times the AI performance while using fewer components. World plans to expand its deployment with self-service kiosks and on-demand scans, delivering Orbs to homes and businesses. World also introduced a limited option for individuals to participate in its identity project without iris scanning. Instead, users can scan a passport equipped with an NFC chip, enabling them to verify their age, nationality, and passport ownership while keeping their identity private. World has faced public scrutiny over concerns surrounding privacy, security and financial concerns and drawn regulatory mechanisms from Africa, Asia, Spain, Portugal, and remains under scrutiny across countries. World IDs, issued through biometric devices or "Orbs", are available in 35 countries, including 15 locations in India. Under India's IT Act, biometric data is considered sensitive and must be collected for legal purposes. While private companies can collect biometric data, they must disclose its purpose and ensure it's not retained indefinitely. Unlike Aadhaar, which was created as a database first, World's collection purpose is specific, allowing for optional participation. However, concerns remain about accountability when private companies handle such sensitive data. Worldcoin allows users to opt for data custody, giving access to their biometric data to third parties but ensures they can revoke consent and delete their data.

Sam Altman's Worldcoin rebrands as 'World' and launches updated Iris-scanning Orb - SiliconANGLE

Sam Altman's Worldcoin rebrands as 'World' and launches updated Iris-scanning Orb Worldcoin, the identity-proving cryptocurrency project co-founded by OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman, has today announced a rebrand and a new version of its Iris-scanning Orb. From today, Worldcoin is now known as "World" because, at least according to the company, the name Worldcoin "no longer encapsulates the mission of the project - to accelerate every human." Along with the renaming, the company also introduced the "World Network" with three key pillars - World Chain, World ID and Worldcoin, which is pitched as a "network of real, verified humans built to enable an optimistic future in which humans will continue to be at the center of AI progress." World (previously Worldcoin) also announced a new version of Orb (pictured), a biometric device that scans the irises of users to verify their identity. The idea behind Orb is to create a proof-of-personhood system that confirms someone is a unique human, not a bot or AI. The new Orb is powered by the latest Nvidia Jetson chipset and offers more advanced technologies that enable World ID proof of human verifications to scale faster and more efficiently than before. The new version is described as being a more "inclusive, secure and anonymous device" that delivers nearly five times the artificial intelligence performance of previous interactions. Equipped with infrared and visible light cameras, the new Orb delivers low-light performance, strengthens fraud detection and improves image security. The new Orb also includes 5G connectivity, allowing it to operate in more locations worldwide. Other features include a removable SD card for easy auditing, allowing users to verify that privacy protocols align with the open-source code. Additionally, the new design uses 30% fewer parts, allowing for faster assembly and supporting the World's goal of decentralization by allowing third-party manufacturing. Other announcements made today include the launch of World ID 3.0, which introduces new features like World ID Credentials and Deep Face. World ID Credentials allow users to store information from their NFC-enabled passports on their devices via the World App, allowing them to prove details such as age, nationality and passport ownership without revealing their personal identity. Additionally, Verified Passport holders can claim WLD tokens (where available) even before completing full Orb verification. World ID 3.0 also enhances privacy and security with AMPC, an advanced Secure Multi-Party Computation setup that offers stronger protections for users' data. Another key feature, World ID Deep Face, provides a more robust system for detecting and combating online fraud, further securing the World ID ecosystem as it expands.

Sam Altman's Worldcoin's Orb: The Future of Digital Identity

In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly integrating into our daily lives, the ability to distinguish between humans and AI entities has become increasingly crucial. Imagine a world where the lines between humans and AI blur so seamlessly that distinguishing between the two becomes a daily challenge. This scenario might sound like science fiction, but with the rapid advancement of AI technology, it's quickly becoming our reality. Enter Worldcoin, co-founded by Sam Altman, with its innovative solution to address this modern problem. The Worldcoin Orb has been designed to transform how we verify identities in an increasingly digital world. As AI becomes more prevalent, the goal is to make sure our sense of identity and trust remains intact. Worldcoin's mission is ambitious yet essential: to establish a global identity network using the World ID, a unique identifier that confirms users are human. This initiative is built on three foundational pillars -- scalability, decentralization, and privacy -- each playing a vital role in creating a robust framework for human and AI interactions. By focusing on these elements, Worldcoin aims to set a new standard for digital identity verification, offering a glimpse into a future where our digital interactions are not only secure but also trustworthy. Worldcoin's primary objective is to create a global identity network using the World ID, a unique identifier that verifies users as human. This ambitious project prioritizes three key elements: scalability, decentralization, and privacy. By focusing on these aspects, Worldcoin aims to offer a robust framework for human and AI interactions, setting a new standard for digital identity verification. At the core of Worldcoin's platform is the Orb device, a technological breakthrough in digital identification. This innovative device uses advanced iris scanning technology to generate unique identifiers for each user. The process works as follows: The Orb's design has undergone significant improvements to enhance efficiency and accuracy. These advancements make it an essential tool for differentiating between humans and AI, setting a new benchmark for privacy-focused identification. The technology not only advances identity verification but also addresses growing concerns about digital impersonation and fraud. Worldcoin's emphasis on scalability and decentralization is crucial for its success and widespread adoption. The initiative aims to create a comprehensive identity network with global reach. This ambitious goal is supported by several key strategies: The decentralized nature of the system ensures that user data remains private and anonymous, addressing common concerns about data security and misuse. By partnering with reputable global institutions, Worldcoin strengthens its data management practices, enhancing the network's overall robustness and reliability. Take a look at other insightful guides from our broad collection that might capture your interest in Digital identification. To assist widespread adoption, Worldcoin is developing a comprehensive infrastructure for identity verification. This includes: These flagship centers will serve as hubs for identity verification, making the process more accessible to users worldwide. The self-serve and on-demand options provide flexibility, allowing users to verify their identities at their convenience. By allowing community operators to participate in the verification process, Worldcoin extends its network's reach and promotes local engagement. Worldcoin places a strong emphasis on privacy and security, recognizing their critical importance in digital identification. The platform incorporates several measures to safeguard user data: These security measures ensure that Worldcoin's platform not only verifies identities but also shields user data from potential threats. The use of secure multiparty computation further enhances data protection by distributing information across multiple parties, making unauthorized access extremely difficult. Worldcoin's innovative approach to digital identification has far-reaching implications for the future of online interactions. By providing a reliable method to distinguish humans from AI entities, the platform addresses significant challenges such as: As AI continues to evolve and permeate various aspects of our lives, Worldcoin's initiative presents a promising solution for maintaining digital trust and security. The platform's potential to create more secure and trustworthy digital environments could transform how we approach online interactions, from social media to financial transactions. Worldcoin's digital identification platform, powered by the innovative Orb device, stands at the forefront of addressing the complex challenges posed by AI integration. By prioritizing scalability, decentralization, and privacy, Worldcoin is not just creating a global identity network; it's paving the way for a more secure and trustworthy digital future.

Sam Altman's rebranded Worldcoin ramps up iris-scanning crypto project

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - - Worldcoin, a cryptocurrency project founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, said on Thursday it was rebranding to World Network and was ramping up efforts to scan every human's iris using its "orb" devices. Its core offering is its World ID, which the company describes as a "digital passport" to prove that its holder is a real human and tell the difference with AI chatbots online. World Network, which is facing scrutiny over its data collection, introduced a new version of its orb iris-scanning device at an event in San Francisco on Thursday, which it said features 5G connectivity and enhanced privacy and security features. It also unveiled a slew of new ways to make it easier to access the orb, such as purpose-built retail locations and a partnership with Latin American delivery service Rappi to bring orbs to people. To get a World ID, a customer signs up to do an in-person iris scan using World Network's "orb", a silver ball approximately the size of a bowling ball. Once the orb's iris scan verifies the person is a real human, it creates a World ID. As an enticement, those who sign up in certain countries receive a cryptocurrency token called WLD. The company behind World Network is San Francisco and Erlangen, Germany-based Tools for Humanity. Since the project launched in July 2023, over 6.9 million people have signed up to have their irises scanned, according to the company. Privacy campaigners have criticized the project over the collection, storage and use of personal data. Earlier this year, Spain and Portugal issued temporary bans, and Argentina and Britain said they would examine World Network. (Reporting by Anna Tong in San Francisco; Editing by Sonali Paul)

Worldcoin Rebrands as World, Launches New Retina Scanning Orb - Decrypt

Worldcoin, the project co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, is branding to 'World' and launching a new version of its controversial retina scanning Orb. Altman, alongside Tools for Humanity CEO Alex Blania, introduced the rebranding and updates to its World ID and World App during a keynote presentation on Thursday. "We know it sounds crazy, but it is that Worldcoin as the name just doesn't work anymore," Blania said. "Starting today, what has been called Worldcoin will be just called World." According to Altman, the redesigned Orb has 30% fewer parts and triple the production capacity of its predecessor. Powered by NVIDIA's Jetson, the new Orb can perform AI operations five times faster than earlier models. "This enables the new Orb to execute sophisticated AI models that prove humanness and operate entirely on device and even faster than before," Altman said. "The new Orb was built with more transparency and the ability to audit the code that's running on it." With bots flooding the internet, Tools for Humanity designed the retina-scanning Orbs as a way for people to prove they actually existed. The first Orbs were placed in Berlin, Germany. In addition to providing "proof of personhood" in limited regions, the Orbs also gave access to the Worldcoin token. Launched in July 2023 by Tools for Humanity, the World Orbs were met with fascination and scorn, as privacy advocates called it a surveillance tool. Shortly after its launch, France and Germany opened investigations into the project and its Orbs. Altman and Blania have sought to resolve future issues by implementing features designed to assuage regulators' and policymakers' concerns. "It has a fully removable SD card that contains all the operating instructions so that anyone can compare those instructions on the SD card versus our published source code." In March, in response to privacy concerns, Altman announced the Orb's core components would become open-source, with its code published on GitHub for public scrutiny. In addition to hardware updates to the Orb, during the presentation, Altman and Blania also introduced updates to the World ID and World app. "World ID will be the anonymous human layer for the internet," Blania said. "But there's a lot of details that go into making that actually work." According to Tools for Humanity, to better protect users' security and privacy, World ID 3.0 uses anonymized multi-party computation to store user data across multiple parties. World ID will also support government-issued identification like passports and driver's licenses. Video AI deepfakes have become an increasingly dangerous form of phishing, with hackers creating fake images of CEOs and managers to dupe unsuspecting victims. To that affect, World is introducing a new feature called "Deep Face." The tool will compare real-time and stored images to verify a user's identity, ensuring that the person interacting with the Orb is the same person who initially signed up. Tools for Humanity said Deep Face is compatible with popular video call apps, including FaceTime, WhatsApp, and Zoom. The World App is also receiving new updates, including a new "mini-apps" tab that allows users to download third-party applications. Users will be able to search for others by username or connect with their contact lists. Tools for Humanity Head of Product Tiago Sada highlighted the app's broad accessibility, including support for over a dozen languages and more than 50 currencies, as well as its compatibility with older-generation mobile phones. "If you want to build a network that can reach everyone, you have an app," Sada said. "You need to have an app that works for everyone."

Sam Altman Rebrands Controversial 'Worldcoin' Project as World: All Details

The now rebranded World initiative aims to provide proof of personhood Worldcoin, the controversial blockchain-based human ID project, has been renamed amid ongoing investigations in several countries. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, the mastermind behind the initiative, revealed the rebranding to 'World' during a company event in San Francisco on October 17. Along with the new name, Altman also introduced a range of new initiatives aimed at expanding the project's scope. "As the scale of the project grows along with the importance of World ID's proof of human protocol, the name 'Worldcoin' no longer encapsulates the mission of the project -- to accelerate every human," said an official blog by World. "World is truly a network of real, verified humans built to enable an optimistic future in which humans will continue to be at the center of AI progress." At the event Altman joined Alex Blania, the co-inventor of World, in announcing the developments that make for the new parts of the initiative. The Orb devices that are used by World to collect eye scans of its users have been revamped alongside the new branding. The new Orb device is fueled by Nvidia's Jetson chipset and is claimed to be five times more powerful than the previously used Orb devices while also being more compatible in nature with Artificial Intelligence (AI). In the coming months, these updated Orbs will be made available at flagship Worldcoin locations and self-serve kiosks. Altman's Web3 initiative now has its own blockchain, called the World Chain, which is a Layer-2 blockchain built atop the Ethereum motherchain. During the event, the World team said that the World Chain is the only blockchain out there that has the largest number of already verified humans. "World Chain is live. As of October 17, all 15 million World ID holders and World App users have either migrated or are in the process of migrating to World Chain," the blog post detailing this angle of the Worldcoin rebranding noted. This blockchain is aimed at prioritising onchain anonymous human verification - that will provide a platform for real humans to build together. The second focus area for the World Chain is to accelerate the adoption of cryptocurrencies and subsequently contribute to democratising financial access and inclusion for more people. Back in July this year, the Worldcoin Foundation had launched the first ever preview of this World Chain exclusively for developers. With the introduction of World ID 3.0, ID holders can now store information from their physical NFC-enabled passports directly in the World App on their devices. The project assures that any data stored off-device will remain inaccessible to both the World Foundation and third parties. This feature eliminates the need for users to share personal details such as age, nationality, or passport information when verifying their IDs, as this can now be done through their World IDs. Additionally, World ID 3.0 includes advanced technology designed to combat online fraud. "World ID Deep Face is a cutting-edge technology that combines Orb imaging, personal data custody and Face Auth to enable people to verify that they are communicating with real humans and combat the rising threat of deep fakes, whether in real-time video or chat interactions," the blog explained. Being advertised as a 'super app for humans', World App 3.0 has been created to scale the World Network to more users. Following on the footsteps of Telegram, the World App 3.0 also offers Mini Apps to enable third party developers to enter the Web3 ecosystem through the World portal. "World App 3.0 has a more useful wallet featuring Vault and World Pay (where available), can hold World ID Credentials and features powerful new security and community features," the blog highlighted. The true impact of these changes on Altman's ambitious and controversial project will soon become evident. Launched in 2023, the Worldcoin initiative has onboarded over 6.9 million individuals from more than 160 countries as of Friday, October 18, using 844 active Orbs. However, the Worldcoins' use of eye scan technology has led to operational challenges in several countries, including Colombia, Kenya, and Spain.

Here's Why Critics Are Raising Eyebrows Over Sam Altman's Iris-Scanning Crypto Project

Worldcoin, a cryptocurrency project founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, said on Thursday it was rebranding to World Network and was ramping up efforts to scan every human's iris using its "orb" devices. Its core offering is its World ID, which the company describes as a "digital passport" to prove that its holder is a real human and tell the difference with AI chatbots online. World Network, which is facing scrutiny over its data collection, introduced a new version of its orb iris-scanning device at an event in San Francisco on Thursday, which it said features 5G connectivity and enhanced privacy and security features. It also unveiled a slew of new ways to make it easier to access the orb, such as purpose-built retail locations and a partnership with Latin American delivery service Rappi to bring orbs to people.

Sam Altman's Eye-Scanning Orb Has a New Look -- and Will Come Right to Your Door

The new Orb, used for biometric verification, from Worldcoin.Courtesy of World Last year, a foundation called Tools for Humanity went on tour to show off its eye-scanning Orb. The metallic globe -- an actual, physical orb -- was one part of a process where citizens would someday use their biometric information to verify their humanity. The project, called Worldcoin, might have been written off as another techno-utopian project bound to fail had it not had one name attached to it: Sam Altman, the cofounder and CEO of OpenAI, one of the most dramatic tech companies of the modern era. An inkling of Worldcoin began in 2019 when Altman began exploring identity verification that could be used in universal basic income schemes. He teamed up with technologist Alex Blania to turn the idea into a reality. In a world of rapidly advancing AI, they theorized, it would be important for a human to prove they were not a bot. The answer they came up with relied on individuals using their iris-scanning tech to generate private tokens that would verify their identities around the world. Worldcoin, then, is the ultimate attempt at tech solutionism: A human-grade AI world that Altman is building might also be technologically regulated by a tool that Altman has his hands in. Today, in an airy space in San Francisco's Mission District, Altman and Blania presented their latest vision for Worldcoin, now rebranded to the World Network, or "World" for short. The event included keynote presentations, new hardware, promises of expanded services, and hands-on (eyes-on?) time with the new product, like an Apple event if the Apple designers had just returned from an ayahuasca retreat. (The WiFi password for the event: IntelligenceAge.) A spokesperson for Tools for Humanity said all event attendees can have their iris scanned today, and 500 attendees will receive a new Orb when it ships in 2025. "We need more orbs, lots more orbs, probably on the order of a thousand more orbs than we have today," Tools for Humanity chief device officer Rich Heley said during the keynote. This Orb is smaller than the previous version, and pearly white. It's running on Nvidia's Jetson chipset and, according to Tools for Humanity, "provides nearly 5x the AI performance" for faster identity verification. None of this makes it less bizarre. In Latin America starting next year, the Orb will be ordered on-demand like a pizza: Through a partnership with the app Rappi, citizens can have an Orb show up at their door to scan their irises and sign up for the World Network. The Orb then goes on its merry way. (Tools for Humanity's designer Thomas Meyerhoffer said that the SD card that arrives at someone's door has no prior data.)

Worldcoin (now World) bets big on Orbs to fight deepfakes

Worldcoin, the brainchild of Sam Altman, is shedding its cryptocurrency identity and rebranding as World, doubling down on the pressing need for human identity verification amidst the rise of AI deepfakes. This move signals a deeper transformation toward addressing one of the most insidious threats of our digital era: the erosion of human authenticity. At a San Francisco event, World introduced the latest version of its Orb device, a cutting-edge biometric tool designed to confirm human identity through iris scans. The company is positioning itself as the vanguard in a battle against increasingly convincing AI-generated content, where the distinction between what is real and what is synthetic is becoming alarmingly tenuous. Alex Blania, co-founder and CEO, outlined the company's ambitious goal to ensure human identity remains verifiable in an era where deepfake technology could easily manipulate public trust. This latest version of the Orb, powered by NVIDIA's Jetson chipset, introduces a new paradigm for human verification. In what could be seen as a reflection of the company's audacity, Chief Device Officer Rich Heley stated that people will soon be able to request an Orb delivery directly to their homes -- similar to ordering takeout -- bringing real-time biometric authentication into the consumer space. This model is not just about convenience; it represents a critical response to the growing threat of identity fraud as AI tools become more adept at mimicking human voices, faces, and behavior. "We are at a crossroads where humanity must ask itself: How will we coexist with AI?" the company declared in a statement, framing this technological development as part of a broader existential challenge. Since July 2023, nearly 7 million people have submitted their irises to World's Orb technology. Despite criticism surrounding privacy and data collection, the company claims its latest Orb model offers enhanced privacy features, utilizing 5G capabilities to secure biometric data. World's expansion into Latin America through partnerships with Rappi also signals its intent to establish a global network of biometric verification centers, with retail locations planned to provide broader access. The question of trust is at the core of World's mission. In a world where AI-generated deepfakes are poised to undermine the very fabric of reality, the company is positioning itself as an essential gatekeeper of truth. The stakes are high, and whether or not the public will embrace World's vision of mass iris scanning for identity verification remains uncertain. Yet the sheer scale of the project and its philosophical framing suggest that World aims to be more than just another tech company. World is betting big on the idea that humanity will soon demand new methods of verifying its authenticity. About a year ago, we compiled a comprehensive list of Worldcoin Orb locations spread across 18 countries worldwide, covering regions from North America to Europe, Africa, and Asia. These locations are key points where users can access World's biometric identity verification services. Here's the full list of countries where the Orbs are available: For more information, refer to the full details in our previous article.

Worldcoin Announces Major Rebrand, Doubles Down on Iris Scanning Despite Privacy Concerns

The company announced a new blockchain for scanned users, known as World Chain. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's controversial crypto project announced a major rebrand on Oct. 17 as it doubles down on its mission to scan every human's iris. Since its inception, the project, which aims to offer humans a "digital passport" with a scan of their iris, has been under fire over privacy and security concerns. WorldCoin to World Worldcoin announced it would be known as "World," signaling a possible move away from an obvious crypto connection as it continues to try to properly market the brand's scope and ethos. In 2023, a Tools for Humanity employee told Forbes that the company's new DNA was "the whole identity thing." "They no longer say they are a crypto company," an employee said. This seems to fit the recent rebrand, which has coincided with major updates to the company's iris-scanning devices, known as "orbs." Founded in 2019, World was originally conceived as a way to distribute universal basic income through a one-time payment following an iris scan. However, following the explosion of interest in AI, largely driven by OpenAI's ChatGPT, the focus of Tools For Humanity -- the company overseeing World -- shifted towards a new priority: verifying human identity. The company wants to provide every human in the world with a "World ID," which would be a form of proof of their human status in a world of rapidly developing AI. World's New Blockchain Despite seemingly looking to move away from the cryptocurrency branding, World announced a new blockchain for owners of its WLD token. In a statement on Thursday, World said users that have scanned their iris will be able to use the network, currently relating to around 15 million people. The blockchain, known as World Chain, will reportedly feature a range of leading apps, including Zerion for real-time APIs and Alchemy for development. "World Chain's vision is to ensure that blockchains ultimately benefit humans first," the company said in a blog post. Scrutiny Across the Globe Since its inception, World has faced heavy criticism from people who believe the company risks compromising users' safety and privacy. The use of biometric data, like the company's iris scans, has raised concerns about the risks of having such sensitive data being logged, even if anonymized. On Thursday, Oct. 17, the company announced another new version of its scanning orb, with the World's chief device officer, Rich Heley, likening booking a scan appointment to having a pizza delivered. World said it would set up its orbs, which have been changed from a metallic color to all white, in retail and coffee shops all across the globe.