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id="primary" class="content-area"> <main id="main" class="site-main" role="main"> <div class="article-wrap"> <article id="post-1459407" class="post-1459407 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail tag-chatgpt tag-cryptcocurrency observer_company-nvidia observer_company-openai channel-business channel-technology nyo_person-sam-altman nyo_person-alex-blania" data-post="" data-title="Sam Altman Has a Side Project Called ‘World’ Aimed at Tackling a World Ruled by A.I." data-url="" data-page-url="/2024/11/sam-altman-worldcoin-rebrand-world-ai/" data-date="2024-11-11 08:00:11" data-date-iso="2024-11-11T08:00:11-05:00" data-author="Alexandra Tremayne-Pengelly" data-coauthors="Alexandra Tremayne-Pengelly" data-channels="Business, Technology" data-piped-channels="Business|Technology" > <header class="entry-header"> <div class="entry-teaser"> <a href="https://observer.com/business/" aria-label="Read more articles on Business">Business</a><span>  •  </span><a href="https://observer.com/technology/" aria-label="Read more articles on Technology">Technology</a> </div> <h1 class="entry-title" itemprop="headline">Sam Altman Has a Side Project Called ‘World’ Aimed at Tackling a World Ruled by A.I.</h1> <h2 class="dek">The venture hopes to help identify humans in a future dominated by A.I. and bots.</h2> <div class="entry-meta nyo-social-comments nyo-social-comments-above"> By <span class="author" itemprop="author"><a rel="author" class="url fn n" href="https://observer.com/author/alexandra-tremayne-pengelly/" title="View All Posts by Alexandra Tremayne-Pengelly">Alexandra Tremayne-Pengelly</a></span> • <span class="entry-date"><time itemprop="datePublished" datetime="2024-11-11">11/11/24 8:00am</time></span> <svg aria-hidden="true" style="position: absolute; width: 0; height: 0; overflow: hidden;" version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <defs> <symbol id="icon-envelope" viewBox="0 0 28 28"> 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src="https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2174798091.jpg?quality=80&w=970" alt="Man in green shirt stands on stage" width="970" height="646" srcset="https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2174798091.jpg 5568w, https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2174798091.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2174798091.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2174798091.jpg?resize=635,423 635w, https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2174798091.jpg?resize=1536,1023 1536w, https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2174798091.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2174798091.jpg?resize=970,646 970w, https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2174798091.jpg?resize=320,213 320w, https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2174798091.jpg?resize=1920,1279 1920w, https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2174798091.jpg?resize=50,33 50w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 300px, 620px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-1459448" class="wp-caption-text">OpenAI’s Sam Altman helped establish Worldcoin in 2019. <span class="media-credit">Stefano Guidi/Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure> <p>The past two years have been action-packed for <a href="https://observer.com/person/sam-altman/" title="Sam Altman" class="company-link">Sam Altman</a>, the co-founder and CEO of ChatGPT-maker <a href="https://observer.com/company/openai/" title="OpenAI" class="company-link">OpenAI</a>. But that hasn’t stopped the A.I. executive from continuing to work on <a href="https://observer.com/2023/05/openai-sam-altman-startup-portfolio/" data-lasso-id="2633408">his many side projects</a>, which include Worldcoin, an obscure venture dedicated to human identification. Worldcoin’s primary product is a digital passport storing individual biometric data known as World ID. Last month, Altman announced a slew of updates that will see improvements to various features supporting the venture’s “proof of personhood” mission.</p> <section class="wp-block-observer-newsletters observer-newsletters--in-content"> <form class="newsletters-block__container" method="post" action="#" id="newsletter-67b35fec592815.10907479" data-form="subscribe-newsletter" data-recaptcha-key="6LexvRggAAAAAF1HvCWrHtG4UAa7m0WIdyIgstAo" data-form-action="https://observer.com/newsletter-subscribe.json"> <div class="observer-newsletters__in-content-icon"> <svg fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 51 51" width="50" height="50"><path d="M18.124 15.961C23.25 8.783 30.096 4.967 33.682 7.305a4.04 4.04 0 0 1 1.013.97c0 .028 8.3 16.017 8.3 16.017l4.634 2.989a6.39 6.39 0 0 1 1.793 1.732c.472.684.798 1.45.96 2.253.161.804.154 1.63-.02 2.432a6.075 6.075 0 0 1-.995 2.24l-.209.291c-.977 1.355-2.475 2.288-4.17 2.598a6.827 6.827 0 0 1-4.883-.943L32.662 48.32c-1.095 1.285-3.197 2.564-5.792 1.059a3.834 3.834 0 0 1-1.15-1.093 3.63 3.63 0 0 1-.587-1.444 3.763 3.763 0 0 1 .008-1.55 3.85 3.85 0 0 1 .635-1.427l6.556-9.208s-15.5-1.174-15.557-1.196a3.812 3.812 0 0 1-1.35-.552c-1.842-1.19-2.502-3.688-1.865-7.035.573-3.082 2.2-6.572 4.564-9.914Zm29.349 19.182.208-.292c.334-.467.567-.992.687-1.545a4.09 4.09 0 0 0 .012-1.678 4.18 4.18 0 0 0-.665-1.555 4.407 4.407 0 0 0-1.239-1.193l-4.002-2.592-5.282 7.405 4.002 2.592a4.64 4.64 0 0 0 1.624.655c.581.114 1.18.119 1.764.013a4.65 4.65 0 0 0 1.634-.631 4.42 4.42 0 0 0 1.257-1.179Zm-20.03 9.809a1.96 1.96 0 0 0-.324 1.528c.108.53.433.998.904 1.3.472.302 1.05.413 1.608.31A2.158 2.158 0 0 0 31 47.23l7.42-10.405-2.983-1.93-.788-.06-7.205 10.117Zm7.832-12.009 5.757-8.072-5.491-10.657c-.533 2.993-2.091 6.55-4.582 10.04-2.49 3.49-5.386 6.18-8.108 7.758l12.424.931ZM18.188 31.66c2.768-.171 7.275-3.143 11.092-8.497s5.056-10.42 4.205-12.94a2.354 2.354 0 0 0-.877-1.185 2.55 2.55 0 0 0-1.44-.47c-2.746 0-7.42 2.989-11.347 8.497-2.212 3.099-3.823 6.34-4.263 9.175-.863 5.42 2.63 5.42 2.63 5.42Z" fill="#000"/><path d="M25.364 16.165a5.726 5.726 0 0 1 2.148.01c.708.14 1.38.412 1.976.8.11.073.204.166.276.272a.941.941 0 0 1 .14.73.947.947 0 0 1-.158.347.998.998 0 0 1-.285.263 1.047 1.047 0 0 1-.767.133 1.046 1.046 0 0 1-.364-.15 3.572 3.572 0 0 0-1.25-.503 3.648 3.648 0 0 0-1.355-.01 3.574 3.574 0 0 0-1.257.486c-.381.238-.71.546-.966.906s-.436.763-.528 1.189a3.152 3.152 0 0 0-.01 1.29c.086.427.26.834.51 1.197.25.363.574.675.952.92a.972.972 0 0 1 .382.48c.07.194.074.405.01.602a.969.969 0 0 1-.37.49 1.048 1.048 0 0 1-.601.186 1.026 1.026 0 0 1-.58-.165 5.305 5.305 0 0 1-2.01-2.363 4.999 4.999 0 0 1-.29-3.028 5.165 5.165 0 0 1 1.527-2.67 5.592 5.592 0 0 1 2.83-1.412h.04Zm-8.491-6.914h-.098c-.25 0-.493-.088-.679-.248a.95.95 0 0 1-.329-.617l-.782-7.234a.919.919 0 0 1 .21-.725c.083-.1.188-.185.306-.247a1.05 1.05 0 0 1 1.14.105.974.974 0 0 1 .36.668l.776 7.24a.933.933 0 0 1-.222.707c-.17.199-.414.325-.682.351ZM3.771 7.763c.149-.214.38-.363.644-.414.264-.052.538-.002.764.138l7.06 4.41a.974.974 0 0 1 .396.482.922.922 0 0 1 .014.611.969.969 0 0 1-.376.496 1.05 1.05 0 0 1-.613.182 1.07 1.07 0 0 1-.58-.155l-7.06-4.41a.961.961 0 0 1-.415-.622.928.928 0 0 1 .166-.718ZM1.61 19.54l8.214-1.406c.265-.045.538.011.759.158.221.146.372.37.42.622a.93.93 0 0 1-.166.723c-.154.21-.389.354-.654.4l-8.207 1.405h-.18c-.258.007-.51-.08-.703-.243A.933.933 0 0 1 .97 19.88a1.03 1.03 0 0 1 .646-.358l-.005.017Z" fill="#000"/></svg> </div> <div class="observer-newsletters__in-content-inner"> <header class="newsletters-block__header"> <h2 class="newsletters-block__title"> Sign Up For Our Daily Newsletter </h2> </header> <div class="newsletters-block__form"> <input type="hidden" name="action" value="subscribe_newsletter"> <input type="hidden" name="newsletters[]" value="newsletter-daily" id="newsletter-daily"> <div class="newsletters-block__fields wp-block-button"> <input class="newsletters-block__input" aria-label="Email Address" placeholder="Email Address" type="email" name="email" required=""> <button class="wp-block-button__link in_article_single_newsletter_button" type="submit"> Sign Up </button> </div> <p class="newsletter-block__success"> Thank you for signing up! </p> <p class="newsletter-block__error"></p> <p class="newsletters-block__disclaimer"> By clicking submit, you agree to our <a href="http://observermedia.com/terms">terms of service</a> and acknowledge we may use your information to send you emails, product samples, and promotions on this website and other properties. You can opt out anytime. </p> </div> <a href="https://observer.com/subscribe/" class="newsletters-block__see-all in_article_single_newsletter_see_all_link"> See all of our newsletters </a> </div> </form> </section> <p>Worldcoin was founded in 2019 and publicly launched last year as a project from Tools for Humanity, a startup established by Altman and <a href="https://observer.com/person/alex-blania/" title="Alex Blania" class="company-link">Alex Blania</a>, a former deep learning researcher at Caltech. The company’s initial mission was to use digital identification to distribute its own crypto token, WLD, to all humans as a form of a universal basic income, a concept Altman has been <a href="https://observer.com/2024/07/sam-altman-vision-universal-basic-income-taking-shape/" data-lasso-id="2633409">interested in for years</a>.</p><div data-ad="1" class="ad-wrapper ad-top-margin ad-has-disclaimer ad-incontent ad-mobile htlad-observer_article_instream_mobile_1" id="observer_article_instream_mobile_1"></div><div class="ad-wrapper ad-top-margin ad-desktop ad-has-disclaimer ad-incontent htlad-observer_article_instream_dsk_1" id="observer_article_instream_dsk_1"></div> <p>In a future where A.I. is ubiquitous, Worldcoin wants to develop tools that will help distinguish humans from bots.”We started thinking about the infrastructure that society was going to need if A.I. really started to happen,” Altman said during a Worldcoin event last month.</p> <p>To that end, Altman and Blania announced at the event that Worldcoin will be rebranded to “World” going forward because the new name better encapsulates the project’s new mission “to accelerate every human.”</p> <h3>How does Worldcoin even work?</h3> <p>In order to verify human identities, World uses a product known as ‘the Orb.’ The circular biometric devices scan human eyes to collect unique iris data that becomes part of one’s World ID. The venture chose iris fragments instead of the more traditional fingerprints or face data route because iris biometrics contain more unique details and are less susceptible to external change, it claims.</p> <p>World recently unveiled its next-generation Orb, which is powered by <a href="https://observer.com/company/nvidia/" title="Nvidia" class="company-link">Nvidia (NVDA)</a>’s Jetson chipset and boasts an A.I. performance that is nearly five times better than the previous version. It is also improving accessibility to Orbs, which will be available at flagship locations, self-serve kiosks and can be ordered by individuals through an on-demand service.</p><div data-ad="1" class="ad-wrapper ad-top-margin ad-has-disclaimer ad-incontent ad-mobile htlad-observer_article_instream_mobile_2" id="observer_article_instream_mobile_2"></div><div class="ad-wrapper ad-top-margin ad-desktop ad-has-disclaimer ad-incontent htlad-observer_article_instream_dsk_2" id="observer_article_instream_dsk_2"></div> <figure id="attachment_1459445" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1459445" style="width: 970px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img decoding="async" class="lazyload size-full-width wp-image-1459445" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2139240619.jpg?quality=80&w=970" alt="Silver circular object with camera in the middle" width="970" height="647" data-srcset="https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2139240619.jpg 5636w, https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2139240619.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2139240619.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2139240619.jpg?resize=635,423 635w, https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2139240619.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2139240619.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2139240619.jpg?resize=970,647 970w, https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2139240619.jpg?resize=320,213 320w, https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2139240619.jpg?resize=1920,1280 1920w, https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2139240619.jpg?resize=50,33 50w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 300px, 620px" /><noscript><img decoding="async" class="lazyload size-full-width wp-image-1459445" src="https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2139240619.jpg?quality=80&w=970" alt="Silver circular object with camera in the middle" width="970" height="647" srcset="https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2139240619.jpg 5636w, https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2139240619.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2139240619.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2139240619.jpg?resize=635,423 635w, https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2139240619.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2139240619.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2139240619.jpg?resize=970,647 970w, https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2139240619.jpg?resize=320,213 320w, https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2139240619.jpg?resize=1920,1280 1920w, https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2139240619.jpg?resize=50,33 50w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 300px, 620px" /></noscript><figcaption id="caption-attachment-1459445" class="wp-caption-text">One of of Worldcoin’s orbs pictured on March 22, 2024. <span class="media-credit">Juan Mabromata/AFP via Getty Images</span></figcaption></figure> <p>Updates were additionally announced to World ID, which will now offer enhanced privacy features and the new feature known as Deep Face that will help users identify A.I. deepfakes on video calls like FaceTime, WhatsApp and Zoom. Meanwhile, a new version of the project’s World App—which stores the World ID—will now feature a platform allowing third party apps to run inside the platform.</p> <p>According to Altman and Blania, World is halfway through its four-step roadmap. Having accomplished the development of the Orb and a blockchain network, it is currently working on scaling and will eventually tackle the fourth stage of redistributing the benefits of A.I.</p> <p>“We want to see what happens when we do this at mass scale,” said Altman. While the venture has for years maintained its goal of reaching one billion users by 2023, it currently only has 15 million World ID holders. “It’s great that we’ve signed up so many people, but there’s 99.9 percent left to go,” said the OpenAI CEO.</p> </p><div data-ad="1" class="ad-wrapper ad-top-margin ad-has-disclaimer ad-incontent ad-mobile htlad-observer_article_instream_mobile_3" id="observer_article_instream_mobile_3"></div><div class="ad-wrapper ad-top-margin ad-desktop ad-has-disclaimer ad-incontent htlad-observer_article_instream_dsk_3" id="observer_article_instream_dsk_3"></div> <img itemprop="image" src="https://observer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/10/GettyImages-2174798091.jpg?quality=80&w=970" alt="Sam Altman Has a Side Project Called ‘World’ Aimed at Tackling a World Ruled by A.I." style="display:none;width:0;"> </div> <footer class="entry-meta"> </footer> </article> <div class="breadcrumbs"> <span class="before-text"> Filed Under:</span> <a href="https://observer.com/business/" aria-label="Read articles filed under Business">Business</a>, <a href="https://observer.com/technology/" aria-label="Read articles filed under Technology">Technology</a>, <a href="https://observer.com/person/alex-blania/" aria-label="Read articles filed under Alex Blania">Alex Blania</a>, <a href="https://observer.com/tag/cryptcocurrency/" aria-label="Read articles filed under cryptcocurrency">cryptcocurrency</a>, <a href="https://observer.com/person/sam-altman/" aria-label="Read articles filed under Sam Altman">Sam Altman</a>, <a href="https://observer.com/tag/chatgpt/" aria-label="Read articles filed under ChatGPT">ChatGPT</a>, <a href="https://observer.com/company/nvidia/" aria-label="Read articles filed under Nvidia">Nvidia</a>, <a href="https://observer.com/company/openai/" aria-label="Read articles filed under OpenAI">OpenAI</a> </div> <div class="next-container"> <ul> <li> <a class="more-from" 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