Sam Altman's Worldcoin rebrands as 'World' and launches updated Iris-scanning Orb
Worldcoin, the identity-proving cryptocurrency project co-founded by OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman, has today announced a rebrand and a new version of its Iris-scanning Orb.
From today, Worldcoin is now known as "World" because, at least according to the company, the name Worldcoin "no longer encapsulates the mission of the project - to accelerate every human." Along with the renaming, the company also introduced the "World Network" with three key pillars - World Chain, World ID and Worldcoin, which is pitched as a "network of real, verified humans built to enable an optimistic future in which humans will continue to be at the center of AI progress."
World (previously Worldcoin) also announced a new version of Orb (pictured), a biometric device that scans the irises of users to verify their identity. The idea behind Orb is to create a proof-of-personhood system that confirms someone is a unique human, not a bot or AI.
The new Orb is powered by the latest Nvidia Jetson chipset and offers more advanced technologies that enable World ID proof of human verifications to scale faster and more efficiently than before.
The new version is described as being a more "inclusive, secure and anonymous device" that delivers nearly five times the artificial intelligence performance of previous interactions. Equipped with infrared and visible light cameras, the new Orb delivers low-light performance, strengthens fraud detection and improves image security.
The new Orb also includes 5G connectivity, allowing it to operate in more locations worldwide. Other features include a removable SD card for easy auditing, allowing users to verify that privacy protocols align with the open-source code. Additionally, the new design uses 30% fewer parts, allowing for faster assembly and supporting the World's goal of decentralization by allowing third-party manufacturing.
Other announcements made today include the launch of World ID 3.0, which introduces new features like World ID Credentials and Deep Face.
World ID Credentials allow users to store information from their NFC-enabled passports on their devices via the World App, allowing them to prove details such as age, nationality and passport ownership without revealing their personal identity. Additionally, Verified Passport holders can claim WLD tokens (where available) even before completing full Orb verification.
World ID 3.0 also enhances privacy and security with AMPC, an advanced Secure Multi-Party Computation setup that offers stronger protections for users' data. Another key feature, World ID Deep Face, provides a more robust system for detecting and combating online fraud, further securing the World ID ecosystem as it expands.