Sam Altman’s Startup Unveils Ice Canning Crypto Orb in the U.S.

Immerse yourself in the vibrant ethos of San Francisco, where the future of cyberpunk is already unfolding. Self-driving vehicles? Boring. A venture aiming to resurrect woolly mammoths? Absolutely, why not! Summoning a god-like AI capable of eradicating humanity? Why not.

Just like you did on Wednesday evening, you might find yourself in a bustling venue in the Marina district, gazing at a luminous white sphere, commonly referred to as an orb, as it scans your eyes in exchange for your cryptocurrency and World ID.

The event was organized by World, a startup based in San Francisco, co-founded by the enterprising Sam Altman, known for his ambitious (or depending on your perspective, unsettling) technological initiatives.

This is essentially the core proposition of the company. The internet is on the brink of being overwhelmed by a multitude of realistic AI bots, making it nearly impossible to discern real individuals on social networks, dating platforms, gaming sites, and other digital realms.

To address this issue, World developed a program called World ID, akin to Internet clearance or TSA Precheck, enabling users to authenticate their humanity online.

To sign up, users gaze into the orb, which captures their iris scans. Following that, they complete a few prompts on a mobile app to attain a unique biometric identifier, stored on their device. The system includes built-in privacy features, assuring that no iris images are retained, only a numeric code linked to the user.

In return, participants earn a cryptocurrency named WorldCoin. (As of Wednesday night, the sign-up bonus was estimated to be valued at around $40.)

During the event, Altman framed the initiative as a response to a dilemma he termed “trust in the AGI era,” as artificial general intelligence is on the horizon and increasingly human-like AI systems are coming to fruition.

“We wanted to ensure that humans remain unique and pivotal in a landscape brimming with AI-generated content online,” Altman explained.

Ultimately, Altman and World’s CEO Alex Blania contend that a solution like WorldCoin is essential for redistributing wealth generated by powerful AI systems to humans, potentially in the form of a universal basic income. They delved into varied methods for establishing a “real human network,” merging proof-of-human verification with financial systems enabling validated individuals to transact with one another.

“Our initial concept seemed quite radical,” Altman remarked. “Then we embraced our craziness and evolved into World.”

Launched globally two years ago, the project initially gained traction in developing regions such as Kenya and Indonesia, where individuals queued for ORB scans in exchange for cryptocurrency incentives. The company has secured about $200 million from investors, including Andreessen Horowitz and Khosla Ventures.

However, challenges arose. The global collection of biometric data has drawn criticism from privacy advocates and regulatory bodies, leading to the company being banned or investigated in locations like Hong Kong and Spain. Reports of fraud and worker exploitation tied to the project’s crypto-based reward mechanism have also surfaced.

Despite these issues, the venture appears to be expanding swiftly. According to Blania, approximately 26 million individuals have signed up for the app worldwide since its debut, with more than 12 million undergoing ORB scans to confirm their humanity.

Initially, the world was kept separate from the US due to regulatory concerns, but the Trump administration’s crypto-friendly policies created an opportunity.

On Wednesday, World announced plans to launch in the US, with retail outlets slated to open in cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Nashville. They aim to install 7,500 orbs across the country by year-end.

The company also unveiled a new version of the ORB, dubbed the Orb Mini. This device resembles a smartphone, yet performs the same function as the larger orb. World has established partnerships with gaming company Razer and the dating conglomerate Match Group.

Uncertainty lingers about the potential for profitability, or whether privacy-conscious Americans are inclined to share their biometric data for cryptocurrency, as many in developing regions have done.

Moreover, it remains to be seen if the world can overcome the inherent skepticism surrounding the peculiar and foreboding aspects of the initiative.

For my part, I recognize the necessity for a method to distinguish bots from humans. However, the proposed solution—a global biometric registry sustained by volatile cryptocurrencies and monitored by private entities—might resemble a “Black Mirror” episode that struggles to achieve widespread acceptance. Even during Wednesday’s event, I observed numerous attendees hesitating to approach the orb amidst a crowd of eager early adopters.

“You can’t easily discard your personal data. It’s essentially your eyeball data at stake,” remarked one tech worker.

Altman’s global affiliations are also under scrutiny. Attendees noted that, through his role at OpenAI, he might be perpetuating the very issue World aims to rectify (an internet flooded with engaging bots).

Nevertheless, Altman’s connections could potentially accelerate World’s growth, especially if collaborations with OpenAI come to fruition or if it becomes integrated with an AI product. Perhaps OpenAI is planning a social network feature with a “Verified Humans Only” setting. Additionally, users who contribute beneficially to OpenAI’s products might one day earn WorldCoin.

(Note: The New York Times has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, claiming copyright infringement regarding news content related to AI systems, a claim which both companies deny.)

Furthermore, societal norms regarding privacy may shift in favor of the initiative, and what seems unusual today could become the norm tomorrow. (Think back to when seeing an airport biometric kiosk felt bizarre—did you vow to never share your biometric details?)

When my turn arrived to approach the orb, I removed my glasses, opened the World app, and adhered to its instructions (Look this way, adjust my position). The orb’s camera recorded the details of my iris and paused for a moment. The rings surrounding the orb glowed yellow, accompanied by a cheerful chime.

Minutes later, I had secured WorldCoin Tokens alongside a World ID and had around 39.22 tokens (valued at $40.77 at current rates). If I manage to transfer them from my phone, I will donate to charity.

My ORB scan was swift and painless, but I felt a subtle sense of vulnerability throughout the night. Conversely, many attendees appeared unfazed.

“What’s the big deal? What am I concealing?” remarked social media influencer Hannah Stocking as she prepared for her orb scan. “Who really cares? I’m all in.”