Latest news with #WorldApp
GMA Network
28-07-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Tools for Humanity partnering with PH developers
Tools for Humanity, co-founded and chaired by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, is expanding its presence in Southeast Asia by partnering with developers in the Philippines to build locally relevant 'Mini Apps' and 'proof-of-human tools' aimed at securing digital spaces in the age of AI. Tools for Humanity is a software and hardware development firm creating digital identity technologies such as the World Network — a global 'proof-of-humanity' network utilizing its 'Orb' biometric device to verify that a user is a human being amid the proliferation of deepfakes and identity fraud in the internet. 'I'm in the Philippines meeting with developers and partners to explore how proof-of-human [technology] can help build a safer, more inclusive internet for Filipinos in the age of AI. With a young, digitally savvy population and a growing middle class eager for new technologies and financial tools, World App's Mini Apps ecosystem is quickly gaining traction. We're happy to collaborate with local developers and technologists to build new Mini Apps — created by Filipinos, for Filipinos,' said Tiago Sada, chief product officer at Tools for Humanity. 'The Philippines has one of the world's most digitally engaged populations,' said Sada. Tools for Humanity's move to launch its human verification device, 'The Orb,' across the Philippines was aimed to combat online fraud amid AI-fueled scams, identity theft, and deepfake. Sada said that with a fast-growing middle class and high mobile penetration, the Philippines is seen as a 'strategic testbed' for innovation, particularly in emerging markets where tech adoption is rapid but online protections remain uneven. He said the tech company's 'Mini Apps' ecosystem —which offers users lightweight digital services built on proof-of-human verification— is gaining traction in markets where access to traditional banking and government infrastructure is limited. By tapping into local developer networks, Sada said World Network aims to build products that 'are not only technically robust but also culturally and economically relevant—bridging gaps in trust, access, and inclusion.' Sada cited as a use-case for World Network's human verification technology the Philippine government's cash aid program, which can be tapped to weed out 'ghost beneficiaries.' He said the tech firm is continuously in discussions with relevant government agencies such the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), but declined to divulge further details. —KG, GMA Integrated News
The Star
08-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
These biometric identity verification stations are springing up in the US
Basically, the device captures an image of the user's iris and extracts a digital representation, which is then converted into a unique identifier, the World ID, to prove that the user is a human being and not a bot. — AFP Relaxnews The startup World, co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, has announced the launch of its first biometric identification terminals in the United States. They enable users to verify their identity by scanning their irises. World's mission is to create a global network of digital identity and financial services, based on a biometric identity verification technology called World ID. This is done primarily via a mobile app, but also via spherical devices, capable of scanning users' irises to uniquely and securely verify their identity. Installed since 2023 and in small numbers in overseas locations, these "Orbs" are now coming to the United States. People in the US can verify their World ID with these devices, which are currently installed in six cities (Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville and San Francisco), as well as in Razer gaming stores. The company hopes to roll out several thousand of these nationwide very soon. Basically, the device captures an image of the user's iris and extracts a digital representation, which is then converted into a unique identifier, the World ID, to prove that the user is a human being and not a bot. In exchange for this verification, users can receive Worldcoin (WLD) tokens, the cryptocurrency associated with the project. To do this, users can download the World App, locate a nearby Orb, then go to the location to have their iris scanned and prove that they are indeed human. This technology enables them to access digital services requiring identity verification, participate in cryptocurrency distribution programs and, above all, protect themselves against online fraud. In terms of security, World claims that biometric data is not stored in any identifiable way, and that iris fragments are anonymized and therefore cannot be used to trace the user's identity. As for the late deployment of Orbs in the United States, this is mainly due to regulatory, strategic and social reasons. The startup's ambition is to one day reach the milestone of one billion human beings worldwide who can be identified in this way. – AFP Relaxnews
Indian Express
03-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
World, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's new startup, launches in the US: Everything you need to know
World, a start-up backed by OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman, launched in the United States this week with the opening of its first retail store in San Francisco. The store of the startup, which aims to allow users to verify their humanity online, features tech devices called the Orbs that scan a person's retina to ascertain if they are human. Speaking at the launch, Altman said, 'We wanted a way to make sure that humans stay special and central in a world where the Internet was going to have lots of AI-driven content.' The verified human network is being built one human at a time. — World (@worldcoin) May 1, 2025 Here is a look at the startup, how the Orbs work, and the concerns around them. What is the World startup? Formerly known as WorldCoin, World is based on the belief that it will eventually be impossible to distinguish humans from artificial intelligence (AI) agents on the Internet. To address this, the startup has created a program called World ID — 'an anonymous proof of human that securely and privately proves you are a unique human,' according to World'swebsite. Ironically, World's implicit goal is to tackle the social ramifications of technologies developed by firms such as OpenAI, which is Altman's other company. Also, in exchange for generating World ID, the startup gives cryptocurrency — called WorldCoin — rewards. Users can then save, send, deposit and withdraw cryptocurrency through the startup's mobile app, known as World App. The World App. Credit: World was founded in 2023 internationally, and found traction in developing countries such as Kenya and Indonesia (the Orbs were installed at 17 locations in India as well). The startup stayed away from the US initially due to the Biden administration's stringent cryptocurrency policies. However, this changed after the return of President Donald Trump to the White House in January, laying the ground for the startup's entry into the US. How does one create a World ID? The World ID is generated after the user gets their eyeballs scanned by the Orb, a glowing white sphere which looks like something out of a Black Mirror episode. 'Then they [users] follow a few instructions on a smartphone app and receive a unique biometric identifier that is storedon their device. There are baked-in privacy features, and the company says it doesn't store the images of users' irises, only a numerical code that corresponds to them,' according to a report in The New York Times. Apart from the Orbs, World has also launched the Orb Mini. It has the familiar shape of a smartphone and is designed to be portable, but serves the same purpose as the larger device. What are the concerns around the startup? Although World has insisted that it does not store the images of users' irises, its biometric data collection has faced opposition from privacy advocates and regulators. For instance, the startup was temporarily banned in several countries, including Kenya, Portugal, and Spain, and was ordered to stop operations in Hong Kong and Brazil. Wired.
Hans India
03-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Altman and Musk Battle to Build the Ultimate ‘Everything App'
Sam Altman and Elon Musk are no longer just rival forces in the AI world—they're also racing to develop what Silicon Valley calls the ultimate 'everything app.' This holy grail of tech would combine financial tools, social networking, commerce, gaming, and more into a single, seamless platform. Earlier this week, Sam Altman unveiled more of his ambitious vision, not as the CEO of OpenAI, but as the co-founder and chairman of Tools for Humanity, the organisation behind Worldcoin. Now available in the U.S., Worldcoin distributes cryptocurrency to individuals who scan their eyes using specialised orbs, which are being deployed in retail stores across the country. But this is only one piece of a much larger puzzle. The long-term goal? To power a super app that could directly rival Musk's X. Altman's World App serves multiple functions: it's a crypto wallet, social network, and a growing ecosystem of mini apps. According to Tools for Humanity, the app has seen its monthly user base double in just six months, now boasting 26 million users—12 million of whom have verified their identity using an orb. Within the app, users can chat through World ID-linked messages, transfer cryptocurrency, and interact with third-party mini apps, such as those developed by Kalshi, with seamless in-app transactions. Meanwhile, Elon Musk is pursuing a similar goal with X. He has openly stated his intention to turn X into a central hub for finance and social networking. Plans are already underway for Venmo-style payment features, rolling out in partnership with Visa later this year. Coincidentally—or perhaps competitively—Tools for Humanity also revealed its own partnership with Visa to launch a U.S. debit card this summer. The card will enable transactions using Worldcoin and offer exclusive rewards for AI-related services. Aside from competing on features, both platforms aim to solve a shared challenge: combating bots and fake accounts. 'It was clear to us that there was a need for something like this, that we needed some sort of way for authenticating humans in the age of AGI,' Altman said during the event. 'We wanted a way to make sure that humans stayed special and central in a world where the internet was going to have lots of AI-driven content.' Tools for Humanity CEO Alex Blania echoed this vision during a press Q&A. He pointed to Musk's X platform as the kind of environment they hope to enhance with World ID verification. He added that bots are no longer as easily detectable as they once were: 'Bots on X used to be 'so stupid that you could see it was some crypto scam,'' he said. 'Now, it's not as clear.' OpenAI insiders were also spotted in the audience at the event, adding fuel to speculation about a possible collaboration. Leading up to the keynote, rumors swirled that OpenAI might partner with Worldcoin for its own social network. When asked about this, Blania responded, 'definitely open to it,' hinting at future developments. Unfortunately, Altman exited the venue after his keynote, leaving further questions unanswered. As the race to build the ultimate app intensifies, Altman and Musk continue to push the boundaries of what a digital platform can be—each with their own powerful ecosystem in the making.
CBS News
02-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Sam Altman, the architect of ChatGPT, is rolling out an orb that verifies you're human
Device in San Francisco offers way to prove your humanness as part of global database Device in San Francisco offers way to prove your humanness as part of global database Device in San Francisco offers way to prove your humanness as part of global database Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI and the architect of ChatGPT, is behind a venture that wants to solve a modern-day problem: proving you're human amidst a proliferation of bots and artificial intelligence. The startup, called World (formerly Worldcoin), is launching in the U.S. with the distribution of 20,000 tech devices called Orbs that scan a person's retina to verify they are human. After confirming a person's humanity, World then creates a digital ID for users that proves their personhood, distinguishing them from a bot or AI program that can mimic human behavior. The device, which looks like something out of "Black Mirror," may seem ironic coming from Altman, given that its purpose is to help people stand out from the very same types of technology he helped develop. But World's backers say the Orb and its "proof of personhood" is addressing a problem that can stymie everything from finance to online dating: bots impersonating people. The Orb "is a privacy-first way to prove you are a human in the world of AI and bots," said Jake Brukhman, co-founder of CoinFund, one of the project's earliest backers. "That is getting relevant as AI is becoming much more prevalent in the world." U.S. rollout follows international debut World isn't exactly new, as it debuted outside the U.S. in 2023 and has already sparked privacy backlash, with Kenya's government shutting down the service, according to the Associated Press. Other jurisdictions followed suit, including Hong Kong and Spain. "I will say that upon the launch in 2023 there was a lot of noise about this," Brukhman said. "But a lot of noise came from the lack of understanding about the Orb and how it works." The Orb doesn't store any biometric data, he added. The device takes photos to ensure a person is human, but then stores that info on the user's device, not in the Orb, according to World's website. World also has a link to cryptocurrencies, as the Orb's human-verification process is designed to be used in the World App, which is a digital wallet that gives people access to decentralized finance and cryptocurrencies. The time is right for a rollout in the U.S., Brukhman said, with expectations of looser crypto regulations under Trump administration. President Trump, who has vowed to turn the U.S. into the cryptocurrency capital of the world, is working on a "crypto strategic reserve" for the nation. The Orbs will be rolled out in stores in six U.S. cities, including Austin, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Nashville, Miami and San Francisco, as well as at gaming retailer Razer, with the idea that people can go to physical locations to get themselves verified as human. "It takes a founder of the brand and acumen of a Sam Altman to really do digital identity," Brukhman said. The U.S. rollout "will massively bolster the adoption of registered users on the network."
