Sam Altman’s Worldcoin Unveils Eye-Scanning Orb’s Latest Model and Expands Global Reach with On-Demand Service

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Sam Altman's Biometric Orb Unveils a Fresh Design and Offers Home Delivery

Previously, an organization named Tools for Humanity initiated a roadshow to display its innovative eye-scanning device, the Orb. This spherical, metallic device is a key component in a future system designed to allow individuals to confirm their identity using their biological data.

The initiative known as Worldcoin could easily have been dismissed as yet another doomed idealistic tech endeavor, if not for its association with a significant figure: Sam Altman. Altman is the cofounder and CEO of OpenAI, a company that stands out as one of the most impactful in today's tech landscape. The origins of Worldcoin trace back to 2019, when Altman started investigating ways to verify identities for potential use in universal basic income programs.

Collaborating with tech expert Alex Blania, he transformed the concept into a tangible project. In an era where AI is evolving swiftly, they proposed that it would be crucial for a person to demonstrate that they are not a machine. Their solution was based on the use of iris-recognition technology, which would create secure tokens for people to confirm their identity globally.

Worldcoin represents the pinnacle of technological optimism, embodying Altman's vision of a future where AI integrates seamlessly with human society, potentially governed by a system under Altman's influence.

In a spacious venue located in San Francisco's Mission District today, Altman and Blania unveiled their updated concept for Worldcoin, now renamed as the World Network, or simply World. The launch featured keynote speeches, the introduction of new devices, commitments to broadening their offerings, and an opportunity for attendees to directly experience the new product, reminiscent of an Apple product launch but with a vibe suggesting the designers had recently been on an ayahuasca journey. (The event's Wi-Fi password was: IntelligenceAge.)

A representative from Tools for Humanity announced that everyone participating in today's event is eligible for an iris scan, with 500 participants slated to get the upcoming Orb upon its release in 2025.

"According to Rich Heley, the chief device officer at Tools for Humanity, during his keynote speech, there's a significant need for an increased number of orbs, estimating the requirement to be around a thousand more than the current count."

This Sphere now boasts a fresh, iridescent appearance. It operates using Nvidia's Jetson chipset and, as stated by Tools for Humanity, it "delivers close to five times the artificial intelligence capability" enabling quicker identity confirmation. Yet, all these advancements do not detract from its oddity.

Beginning next year in Latin America, individuals will have the convenience of requesting the Orb to their doorstep as easily as ordering pizza, thanks to a collaboration with the Rappi app. This service allows residents to register for the World Network by having their irises scanned by the Orb upon its arrival. After completing its task, the Orb departs. Thomas Meyerhoffer, designer at Tools for Humanity, assured that the SD card delivered to users is free of any pre-existing data.

The global community announces the launch of two new Orb-scanning facilities, located in Buenos Aires and Mexico City. Additionally, the Orb could make an appearance at local convenience stores or cafés near you, offering the option to get an iris scan alongside your morning coffee. Presently, there are four sites within the United States where individuals can locate their closest Orb, and a total of 333 Orb locations worldwide.

The Orb device primarily functions as a container for various sensors and electronic components designed to record your eye data. Upon collecting this biometric information, it is then transferred to an application. Naturally, this process prompts concerns regarding the safety and handling of personal data. Blania maintains that when an individual sets up a World ID and undergoes an iris scan, which is then saved in the World application, the data is encrypted and kept solely on the user's own devices.

Today marks a significant update for the World app and World network, key components in Altman and Blania's blueprint for the future of identity verification. These software services have received multiple enhancements.

Initially, Altman and Blania have enhanced the functionality of the World ID service, now accommodating several hundred million credentials, an increase from the current count of around 7 million World ID users verified as "Orb-verified," a term that may raise some eyebrows.

The firm is introducing a novel functionality named Deep Face, drawing inspiration from the term "deepfake," which aims to offer an innovative solution for fighting fraud. This feature will work seamlessly with online chatting platforms such as FaceTime, WhatsApp, and Zoom. The concept is that if an individual appears on a video conference claiming to be you, and your identity has already been confirmed via World, the application would signal that the person is not genuinely you.

WIRED inquired about how the company intends to offer its Deep Face service, which involves some form of facial recognition technology, while still maintaining its commitment to recent data privacy standards. Blania outlined an approach where an individual's World ID operates locally on their Mac, serving as an application layer that activates during video chats as the user engages the camera. However, World has not yet secured formal agreements with Apple, Meta, or Zoom for this implementation; the company simply stated that the World app would "facilitate" these functions.

At today's gathering, World announced that its blockchain network, dubbed "the first blockchain created with human needs in mind," has officially launched. This development signifies that the numerous users of World ID and World App will now transition to this innovative blockchain infrastructure.

During the event, the focus was less on the term "crypto," despite the biometric-scanning Orb and the World network being fundamentally linked to cryptocurrency tokens. Rather, Altman and Blania highlighted the blockchain services of World, along with its capabilities in managing digital assets and facilitating online communication.

During the press conference, Blania announced plans for World to establish what would be the world's most extensive financial network in the coming years.

In an individual conversation with WIRED, Blania shared that their weekly gatherings at Atlman’s residence on Sundays were motivated by PayPal's success story. He drew parallels between how Peter Thiel, Max Levchin, and their team revolutionized the digital payment landscape, transforming the face of online shopping and earning billionaire status along the way. Similarly, the team at World envisioned themselves establishing an analogous infrastructure for tokens across a decentralized network.

Currently, the World app is available at no cost to all users. Scanning your eyes won't cost you anything either. Tools for Humanity, which has received venture capital funding, is aggressively pursuing growth in the contemporary market for identity verification and the collection of your biometric information. According to Blania, the organization plans to eventually generate revenue through transaction fees.

The spokesperson for Tools for Humanity revealed that the organization's current plans for growth are primarily focused on areas outside the United States, attributing this strategy to the unclear regulatory environment surrounding cryptocurrencies within the country.

Utilizing the Orb and its associated app within the United States allows for the scanning and preservation of your iris data, however, it does not produce a cryptographic token on your behalf.

Approximately two and a half years prior, the Worldcoin initiative faced criticism for purportedly misleading and exploiting people to get them to participate in eye scans. Blania explained that the disorganized conduct was a result of the company's early "startup" stage. Speaking to WIRED, Blania mentioned that the company is undertaking numerous measures, approximately "a thousand," to enhance the process for obtaining consent. He highlighted that an "operational team" will be positioned in each location where World operates to facilitate this. Additionally, Blania noted that the World application will include detailed "explanations" on the functionality of the product.

"Blania emphasized that there is no centralized storage of data whatsoever."

In 2023, authorities in Germany, Brazil, India, South Korea, and Kenya probed the service due to worries regarding its handling and utilization of biometric information. Kenya halted Worldcoin registrations entirely. South Korea imposed a penalty on the firm. Worldcoin voluntarily halted its operations in India, Brazil, and France.

Blania expressed his belief that World is expected to make a comeback in Kenya in the near future.

In response to inquiries during the media briefing regarding the focus on Latin America as a potential growth area, specifically through the collaboration with Rappi for orb delivery services, Blania challenged the notion that World was giving precedence to Latin America above other regions.

"Blania explained that due to constraints in resources, there's an inherent order in how things are progressing. He also mentioned that their attention is equally divided among Asia and various regions. Specifically, Argentina has emerged as a rapidly expanding market, which has generated considerable enthusiasm."

"He also noted that the initiative is explicitly named 'World'."

Following the keynote speech, Altman hurried into the media room, offering a quick wave and an apology for his inability to linger before discreetly departing in a manner reminiscent of a national leader.

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