Latest news with #WLD
Indian Express
09-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Sam Altman's World to launch iris-scanning Orb services in UK starting June 12
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's other venture, World, is all set to enter the United Kingdom this week with its biometric identity verification services starting to roll out in London from Thursday, June 12, followed by an expansion to Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff, Belfast, and Glasgow over the next few months. World scans people's eyes using a spherical eye-scanning device called the Orb. The technology is primarily designed to serve as an alternative authentication method to existing bot prevention measures such as CAPTCHA and facial recognition. The company recently opened up shop in the US with retail stores in six locations including Austin, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Nashville, Miami, and San Francisco. World currently has over 13 million verified users with plans to scale growth amid the AI era. Formerly known as WorldCoin, World is based on the belief that it will eventually be impossible to distinguish humans from AI bots on the Internet. Its Orb device aims to prevent the misuse of AI-generated deepfakes by scanning a person's face and iris. It then generates a unique code that could serve as an ID for authentication confirming that the individual is human and not AI. Users who opt to have their iris scanned and receive their verified IDs will also be awarded with some amount of World's WLD cryptocurrency token. The World ID can also be used to sign into various applications. It currently works with applications such as Reddit, Discord, and Minecraft. Since its launch in 2021, World has been plagued by privacy concerns. However, the startup has said that it looks to address these concerns by encrypting the biometric data it collects from users and deleting the original data. World's verification system is built on a decentralised network comprising users' smartphones, which reportedly makes it safer than storing and processing biometric data via the cloud. The startup's Orb technology is reportedly seeing significant demand from enterprise users as well as government clients. This demand has been spurred by the growing threat of AI for fraudulent purposes targeting banks, etc. 'The idea is no longer just something that's theoretical. It's something that's real and affecting them every single day,' Adrian Ludwig, chief architect of Tools for Humanity, which is a core contributor to World, was quoted as saying by CNBC. He also revealed that World is in talks with regulators such as the UK's Information Commissioner's Office, which serves as the data protection authority in the country. 'We're beginning to see governments now more interested in how can we use this as a mechanism to improve our identity infrastructure. Mechanisms to identify and reduce fraud is of interest to governments,' Ludwig said. 'In general, there's been lots of questions: how do we make sure this works? How do we protect privacy? If we engage with this, does it expose us to risks? All of those questions we've been able to answer,' he added.
CNBC
08-06-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Sam Altman brings his eye-scanning identity verification startup to the UK
LONDON — World, the biometric identity verification project co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, is set to launch in the U.K. this week. The venture, which uses a spherical eye-scanning device called the Orb to scan people's eyes, will become available in London from Thursday and is planning to roll out to several other major U.K. cities — including Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff, Belfast, and Glasgow — in the coming months. The project aims to authenticate the identity of humans with its Orb device and prevent the fraudulent abuse of artificial intelligence systems like deep fakes. It works by scanning a person's face and iris and then creating a unique code to verify that the individual is a human and not an AI. Once someone has created their iris code, they are then gifted some of World's WLD cryptocurrency and can use an anonymous identifier called World ID to sign into various applications. It currently works with the likes of Minecraft, Reddit and Discord. Adrian Ludwig, chief architect of Tools for Humanity, which is a core contributor to World, told CNBC on a call that the project is seeing significant demand from both enterprise users and governments as the threat of AI to defraud various services — from banking to online gaming — grows. "The idea is no longer just something that's theoretical. It's something that's real and affecting them every single day," he said, adding that World is now transitioning "from science project to a real network." The venture recently opened up shop in the U.S. with six flagship retail locations including Austin, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Nashville, Miami and San Francisco. Ludwig said that looking ahead, the plan is to "increase the number of people who can be verified by an order of magnitude over the next few months." Ever since its initial launch as "Worldcoin" in 2021, Altman's World has been plagued by concerns over how it could affect users' privacy. The startup says it addresses these concerns by encrypting the biometric data collected and ensuring the original data is deleted. On top of that, World's verification system also depends on a decentralized network of users' smartphones rather than the cloud to carry out individual identity checks. Still, this becomes harder to do in a network with billions of users like Facebook or TikTok, for example. For now, World has 13 million verified users and is planning to scale that up. Ludwig argues World is a scalable network as all of the computation and storage is processed locally on a user's device — it's only the infrastructure for confirming someone's uniqueness that is handled by third-party providers. Ludwig says the way technology is evolving means it's getting much easier for new AI systems to bypass currently available authentication methods such as facial recognition and CAPTCHA bot prevention measures. He sees World serving a pertinent need in the transition from physical to digital identity systems. Governments are exploring digital ID schemes to move away from physical cards. However, so far, these attempts have been far from perfect. One example of a major digital identity system is India's Aadhaar. Although the initiative has seen widespread adoption, it has also been the target of criticisms for lax security and allegedly worsening social inequality for Indians. "We're beginning to see governments now more interested in how can we use this as a mechanism to improve our identity infrastructure," Ludwig told CNBC. "Mechanisms to identify and reduce fraud is of interest to governments." The technologist added that World has been talking to various regulators about its identity verification solution — including the Information Commissioner's Office, which oversees data protection in the U.K. "We've been having lots of conversations with regulators," Ludwig told CNBC. "In general, there's been lots of questions: how do we make sure this works? How do we protect privacy? If we engage with this, does it expose us to risks?" "All of those questions we've been able to answer," he added. "It's been a while since we've had a question asked we didn't have an answer to."
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sam Altman's Worldcoin Raises $135M, WLD Token Surges 25%
WLD token jumped 25%, trading at $1.55, within 24 hours of the announcement on May 21. The funding will scale Orb distribution in the U.S. and fuel global demand for verifiable digital identity amid the rise of AI Worldcoin, the digital identity project co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, has raised $135 million through a direct sale of its WLD token, according to the Worldcoin Foundation. Within 24 hours of the May 21 announcement, the token surged 25%, reaching a three-month high of approximately $1.55—up from an earlier dip below $1.24, according to Beincrypto. Trading volume also spiked past $1 billion, reflecting strong market interest and renewed momentum. Don't Miss: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — World Assets Ltd., a subsidiary of the Worldcoin Foundation, conducted the token sale. According to the Worldcoin Foundation, the token sale involved a direct purchase of WLD tokens at market prices by Andreessen Horowitz, or a16z, and Bain Capital Crypto, with "no venture-style lockups or discounts." The foundation said the transaction added over 100 million tokens to the circulating supply. The foundation clarified that the sale was not structured as a typical venture round but as a direct purchase of liquid tokens at market price, with no discounts. Worldcoin uses a proof-of-personhood model, where users scan their irises via the Orb in exchange for airdropped WLD tokens. These tokens can then be used within Worldcoin's in-app ecosystem, according to a Worldcoin whitepaper. Trending: 'Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. As of May, the project reported over 26 million users, with 12.5 million having completed Orb-based verification. According to the foundation, the funding supports the World's long-term mission to provide scalable human verification tools in the age of artificial general intelligence. The network is expected to become one of the first self-sustaining protocols, driven in part by protocol fees. To meet growing demand, Worldcoin is rapidly scaling its Orb infrastructure across the U.S., with deployments already underway in Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, and San Francisco, CNBC reported. The company plans to distribute 7,500 Orbs across the country by the end of the year, offering access to biometric verification for over 180 million Americans. A flagship storefront has been launched in San Francisco, and a Texas-based facility will support nationwide Orb production and distribution, including placement in gas stations and convenience stores. Despite these expansion efforts, Worldcoin faces regulatory pushback in multiple regions. Authorities in Spain, Indonesia, and Kenya have raised concerns over data privacy and biometric compliance, with some halting or investigating the project, CNN Horowitz and Bain Capital Crypto were among the earliest backers of Worldcoin, having previously invested in Tools for Humanity—the company developing the project—during a $115 million round led by Blockchain Capital in May 2023, according to Crunchbase. Their latest $135 million token purchase at full market price—despite a 90% price decline over the past 14 months—was seen by some as a bold vote of confidence. "A16z and Bain just bought $135 million of Worldcoin (WLD) at the current market price... a price that is down 90% over the past 14 months. I'm not sure I've ever seen something like that," said Matt Hougan, chief investment officer at Bitwise Asset Management, in a post on X. Read Next: Invest where it hurts — and help millions heal:. Inspired by Uber and Airbnb – Deloitte's fastest-growing software company is transforming 7 billion smartphones into income-generating assets – Image: Shutterstock UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Sam Altman's Worldcoin Raises $135M, WLD Token Surges 25% originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Fox News
28-05-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Biometric iris scanning launches in US cities for digital identity
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, known for creating ChatGPT, has launched World, a project that uses an eye scan to prove you are a real person online. The idea is to help people stand out from bots and AI by creating a digital ID with a quick scan from a device called the Orb. While Altman says this technology keeps humans central as AI advances, it also raises serious concerns about privacy and the security of sensitive biometric data, with critics and regulators questioning how this information will be used and protected. World ID relies on a device called the Orb, a spherical scanner that captures a person's iris pattern to generate a unique IrisCode. It stores the code on a blockchain-based platform, ensuring that users can verify their identity without revealing personal details. Once scanned, individuals receive their World ID, which can be used for authentication across various platforms where the World ID protocol has been integrated, including Reddit, Telegram and Shopify. Additionally, those who sign up are rewarded with WLD cryptocurrency as an incentive. They get the equivalent of $40 worth of tokens, which they can spend, exchange or share with other World ID holders. World ID is currently available in Austin, Texas, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Nashville, Tennessee, Miami and San Francisco, with plans to expand further. The company aims to deploy 7,500 Orb devices across the U.S. by the end of the year, targeting 180 million users. While the technology promises enhanced security, the debate over its privacy implications continues to grow. World ID has ambitious goals, but despite this, the project has faced significant backlash. Many people worry that storing eye scan data in a worldwide database could put their personal information at risk. Adding to the controversy, critics point out the irony of Sam Altman, whose company, OpenAI, contributes to the very AI challenges World ID aims to solve, being at the helm of this project. Governments in Spain, Argentina, Kenya and Hong Kong have either suspended or investigated the project due to concerns over excessive data collection. Furthermore, cybersecurity experts warn that once biometric data is linked to an identity system, it becomes irreversible, raising fears of potential surveillance. World ID helps prove that people online are real humans and not AI bots, something that is on the rise. In this AI-driven world, it can be an essential security measure to ensure the internet is a safer and more trustworthy place. Since the system is integrated with blockchain technology, it can definitely provide secure authentication across multiple platforms. However, the storage of sensitive biometric data in a global database will always raise concerns for many. Do you think the benefits of blockchain-based iris scanning technology outweigh its privacy implications? Let us know by writing us at For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Follow Kurt on his social channels: Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions: New from Kurt: Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
Business Mayor
26-05-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
Altcoins surge! XMR, AAVE, and WLD outperform as Bitcoin holds support
Bitcoin, at press time, was consolidating above $109,000, showing resilience within the upper Bollinger Band range. The RSI was at at 67.71 – hovering near overbought territory – A sign of strong bullish momentum without immediate signs of exhaustion. Meanwhile, the OBV remained flat – A sign of a pause in buying pressure, despite recent gains. Source: TradingView This steady range-trading in Bitcoin has opened the door for capital rotation into altcoins like XMR, AAVE, and WLD. With BTC holding support and volatility compressing across the board, traders might be increasingly willing to chase higher returns in riskier assets. Especially since Bitcoin serves as a stable anchor for the market. WLD breaks out, but… Worldcoin has climbed by over 35% in the past two weeks, consolidating above $1.43 with its bullish momentum still intact. The RSI was at 63.94 at press time, reflecting steady upward pressure without overbought signals. However, the CMF remained slightly negative, indicating a potential drop in sustained buying power. Source: TradingView This, after the broader privacy coin sector advanced by over 3%, pushing its combined valuation past $10 billion. While the sector-wide rally did offer some respite, WLD's muted on-chain flows do raise some questions about whether it can maintain its gains without stronger capital inflows. XMR hits overdrive, but is a cool-off coming? Monero surged to $411, mirroring the broader privacy coin rally that pushed the sector past a $10 billion valuation. However, its daily RSI soared to 81.86 – firmly in overbought territory – raising caution about a potential short-term correction. The MACD was bullish, with wide separation between signal lines, reinforcing the strength of the uptrend. Source: TradingView Still, the slight dip in daily volume hinted at waning momentum. While XMR has clearly benefited from the privacy coin narrative, traders may want to brace for consolidation or a retest unless fresh catalysts emerge to support sustained vertical price action. Read More Lido breaks out: Is $4 the next target for LDO? AAVE joins the rally, but signs hinted at exhaustion AAVE climbed to $267, extending gains from its mid-May breakout and riding the sector-wide upswing in privacy and DeFi-linked tokens. However, with the RSI at 71.57, the asset entered overbought territory – Often a precursor to short-term pullbacks. Source: TradingView Despite solid momentum and higher lows supporting the uptrend, the recent string of small-bodied candles alluded to indecision creeping in. With volume slightly falling too, bulls may need a fresh catalyst to sustain the climb. A brief consolidation phase could be healthy, especially after the nearly 80% rally seen over the past month.
