Worldcoin Rebrands as 'World,' Launches New Tech to Scale Human Verification
In a bold move, the Sam Altman-backed Worldcoin project has dropped the "coin" from its name and will now be known simply as "World." This shift was announced on Thursday at a live event in San Francisco, where Tools for Humanity, the company behind the project, also introduced the next generation of their iris-scanning "Orbs" and new digital tools.
Alex Blania, co-founder and CEO of Tools for Humanity, explained that the rebrand reflects the project's broader ambitions beyond cryptocurrency. Originally conceived as a "proof of personhood" initiative that would allow people to verify their humanity through eye-scanning, the rebrand suggests a pivot toward a wider focus. Blania hinted that World’s cryptocurrency might still find its way into AI platforms like ChatGPT in the future, but emphasized that World and OpenAI remain distinct entities.
While Altman is heavily involved in the project, with regular input on key decisions, Blania stressed that World’s success is not dependent on OpenAI’s progress. Instead, World is tackling the challenge of distinguishing humans from advanced AI systems. The solution? Blockchain-based human verification services, which could redistribute the wealth generated by AI to individuals via the World cryptocurrency.
Despite World’s ambitious plans, the project continues to face scrutiny. Several governments, including Kenya and nations within the European Union, have raised concerns about privacy and security risks. While Kenya recently allowed World to resume operations, investigations in the EU remain unresolved.
At Thursday’s event, Blania laid out a four-step roadmap for World’s future, highlighting the completion of the first two phases: developing the Orb and building a decentralized network. The next big challenge is scaling up World’s user base, which currently sits at 7 million verified individuals. To achieve this, World will need to scan far more eyeballs worldwide. To that end, the new, faster Orb was revealed, along with a partnership with Latin American delivery service Rappi, which will allow users to schedule home verifications.
Additionally, Tools for Humanity introduced "Deep Face," a tool designed to fight deepfakes and online impersonation. While the details were sparse, the technology could be integrated into platforms like FaceTime and Zoom to enhance online security.
Another key announcement was the beta launch of World ID, an online credential that aims to offer a privacy-preserving alternative to government-issued identification. While it won't replace official IDs, World ID could help users verify their identities online without sharing excessive personal information.
The event also underscored the challenges World faces in gaining widespread adoption. Attendees were required to present government-issued IDs to verify their identity, raising questions about public trust in a project led by Sam Altman, whose past controversies at OpenAI still loom large. However, with a roadmap focused on scaling and a slew of innovative tools in development, World is set to redefine its role in the digital identity landscape.