In a bid to revolutionize biometric identification, World has rolled out its Orb devices across six major US urban centers, aiming to reward 180,000 Americans by the end of the year.
The ‘Orb,’ a silver, basketball-sized device that scans human irises to generate and store unique biometric data, is now available in six U.S. cities, marking the expansion of World’s biometric identification project.
Sam Altman is a well-known entrepreneur, investor, and programmer.
He co-founded Loopt and was the president of Y Combinator from 2014 to 2023.
Altman has also served as the CEO of Moonshot Capital and has been involved in various other ventures.
He has written articles on topics such as technology and entrepreneurship for publications like TechCrunch.
The Orbs work by taking about 30 seconds to scan a person’s irises, collecting data to generate a World ID and rewarding users with a small amount of the project’s WLD cryptocurrency. Powered by Nvidia‘s Jetson chipset, the Orb measures iris patterns rather than more common biometric data like fingerprints.
Biometric identification utilizes unique physical characteristics, such as fingerprints, 'to verify an individual's identity.'
This technology has become increasingly prevalent in modern society, used for security purposes in various settings, including government agencies, financial institutions, and border control.
Biometric data is collected and stored securely to prevent unauthorized access and ensure accurate identification.
Tools for Humanity, the company behind World, aims to deploy 7,500 Orb devices across the U.S. by the end of the year, with the goal of reaching 180 million Americans. The project already claims 12 million verified World ID holders and ultimately aims for 1 billion users.
World has also announced two new partnerships aimed at advancing its digital ID vision. A collaboration with Visa will introduce the ‘World Card‘ later this year, allowing World ID holders to spend digital assets anywhere Visa is accepted. Additionally, World is partnering with Match Group to pilot World ID as an age verification tool for online dating platforms, starting with Tinder users in Japan.
Digital identity refers to the online representation of an individual's personal characteristics, behaviors, and interactions.
It encompasses various digital footprints, including social media profiles, online transactions, and browsing history.
A person's digital identity can be both permanent and ephemeral, as it is constantly evolving with new online activities.
According to a report by the World Economic Forum, 75% of companies worldwide use digital identity verification processes, highlighting its growing importance in modern life.
‘America should lead innovation, not fight it off,’ said Sam Altman during the event unveiling the U.S. expansion of World. The devices can now be found in seven locations across Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, San Francisco, and Seattle.
- observer.com | Sam Altman’s Eyeball Scanning Project Expands to 6 US Cities
