How do you prove you’re human in a world increasingly dominated by AI? Sam Altman and Jony Ive think they have the answer: look into an orb. Yes, really. Their ambitious project, Worldcoin, is using biometric iris scanning to create unique digital identities for millions of people worldwide. And they’re not messing around – they’ve already verified over 12 million users across 100+ countries.
The concept is pretty wild. You stare into a specialized device called an Orb, it scans your iris, and boom – you’re officially human. The scan creates a unique code stored on their blockchain, and then the biometric data supposedly vanishes into the digital ether. Privacy advocates are, unsurprisingly, having a field day with this one. But Worldcoin insists their system is bulletproof, with anonymized data and open-source transparency. The project is even partnering with VISA to launch a debit card for token holders.
Here’s where it gets interesting: they’re actually paying people to get scanned. New users receive 16 $WLD tokens, while early adopters can snag a hefty 150 $WLD pioneer grant. The World App lets users trade these tokens or use them in a growing ecosystem of Mini Apps. No investment required – just your eyeballs and a willingness to trust the process.
The marriage of AI and crypto here is fascinating. As AI-generated content floods the internet, Worldcoin’s system aims to separate the humans from the bots. They’re planning to install over 7,500 Orbs across the US alone. That’s a lot of eyeball scanning. The token reached an impressive milestone when it hit nearly $12 in early 2024.
But here’s the kicker – this isn’t just about crypto or identity verification. It’s about creating a new kind of digital infrastructure for the AI age. The backing of Altman (OpenAI’s CEO) and Ive (Apple’s former design guru) gives the project serious weight.
Whether people will actually trust a company scanning their irises for crypto tokens remains to be seen. But one thing’s clear: in the battle between humans and AI, Worldcoin is betting big on the power of the human eye.
