LONDON — A new identity project using eye-scanning technology is launching in London on Thursday, with more UK cities to follow.
The project, called World, is co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. It aims to confirm a person is human, not AI.
Using a shiny device called the Orb, it scans your face and eyes, then creates a unique code just for you.
This code, known as World ID, helps users prove they are real people on apps like Reddit, Discord, and Minecraft.
After signing up, people also receive a small amount of World’s own cryptocurrency, called WLD.
The Orb will soon be available in cities like Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff, Belfast, and Glasgow.
Adrian Ludwig, chief architect at Tools for Humanity, says demand is rising fast due to growing fears about AI fraud.
Ludwig says what started as a science idea is now a real-world network with growing use by companies and governments.
World already operates in several U.S. cities and plans to expand globally in the coming months.
The system stores data on users’ devices instead of the cloud, aiming to keep personal data safe and private.
Still, some critics remain concerned about privacy risks and how the data is handled.
World says it deletes all original biometric data and only keeps encrypted codes to protect users.
The company is now talking to UK data regulators and hopes to help governments modernise their digital ID systems.
