Sam Altman’s ambition to build a global identity network backed by blockchain and biometrics entered the US.
According to the company, this project, now known simply as “World,” launched its US rollout in six cities, offering curious participants a chance to scan their irises in exchange for a digital identity and crypto tokens.
“The United States of America stands at the forefront of artificial intelligence innovation. Now, it’s time for the world’s AI hub to embrace the essential counterpart: proof of human,” the company mentioned.
US Launch Targets Innovation Hubs
Residents in Austin, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, and San Francisco can reportedly visit retail locations outfitted with “Orbs,” the chrome spherical devices that capture facial and iris data.
After a 30-second scan, users receive a unique “IrisCode” and a free allocation of the project’s WLD cryptocurrency. The process links them to a decentralized ID system that can integrate with online services like Reddit, Discord, and Shopify.
World plans to scale up fast. The company expects to deploy 7,500 Orbs across the US by the end of 2025, aiming to cover more than half of the population, about 180 million Americans, Coindesk reported.
At an event in San Francisco, World unveiled partnerships that signal broader ambitions beyond crypto. Visa will issue a World-branded debit card for users verified through iris scans. Match Group, parent of Tinder, will reportedly test World ID for age verification in Japan, potentially addressing growing concerns over fake profiles and online safety.
The latest Orb devices are powered by Nvidia’s Jetson processors. World also plans to open an assembly line for Orb production in Richardson, Texas.
“Proof of Human” in an AI Era
Despite its ambitious scope, World faces scrutiny over how it handles biometric data. The system stores some information to prevent duplicate registrations and manipulation. However, its developers stress that the data is split across institutions and secured cryptographically to avoid central points of failure.
Still, privacy regulators remain cautious. Hong Kong previously ordered the project to halt data collection, and concerns about biometric storage persist in other regions.
World initially aimed to enroll one billion users by 2023. Today, the network counts 26 million participants globally, with about 12 million fully verified.
This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.TrendingRead More
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