In a significant move to combat the growing threat of artificial intelligence-powered fraud, Sam Altman's biometric identity verification project, World, is set to launch in the UK this week. The venture, which utilizes a spherical eye-scanning device called the Orb to authenticate human identities, will initially be available in London and later expand to other major cities such as Manchester, Birmingham, and Glasgow. This launch comes as World sees increasing demand from companies and governments seeking to prevent the misuse of AI systems, including deep fakes, which can be used to deceive and defraud individuals and organizations.
The Orb device works by scanning a person's face and iris, generating a unique code that verifies the individual is human and not an AI. Once a user has created their iris code, they are rewarded with World's WLD cryptocurrency and can use an anonymous identifier, World ID, to access various applications, including Minecraft, Reddit, and Discord. According to Adrian Ludwig, chief architect of Tools for Humanity, a core contributor to World, the project is transitioning from a "science project" to a real network, with significant interest from enterprise users and governments. The growing threat of AI-powered fraud has made World's technology a pressing need, and the company is now working to increase the number of people who can be verified by an order of magnitude over the next few months.
World's verification system has been designed with user privacy in mind, encrypting biometric data and deleting the original information. The system also relies on a decentralized network of users' smartphones, rather than the cloud, to perform individual identity checks. This approach is scalable, with all computation and storage processed locally on a user's device, and only the infrastructure for confirming someone's uniqueness handled by third-party providers. With 13 million verified users, World is planning to scale up its network, addressing concerns over how its technology could impact users' privacy. The company has been working to address these concerns, and Ludwig argues that World's approach is more secure than traditional authentication methods, such as facial recognition and CAPTCHA.
As technology continues to evolve, it is becoming increasingly easier for AI systems to bypass existing authentication methods. This has led to a growing need for more secure and reliable identity verification systems, such as World. Governments are also exploring digital ID schemes, moving away from physical cards, but these attempts have been imperfect so far. For example, India's Aadhaar system has been criticized for its lax security and potential to worsen social inequality. Ludwig believes that World can serve a critical need in the transition to digital identity systems, and the company has been engaging with regulators, including the UK's Information Commissioner's Office, to address concerns and ensure that its solution is both effective and secure.
The launch of World in the UK marks a significant step forward in the company's mission to provide a secure and reliable identity verification system. With its unique approach to biometric authentication and commitment to user privacy, World is well-positioned to address the growing threat of AI-powered fraud. As the company continues to expand its network and engage with regulators, it is likely to play an increasingly important role in the development of digital identity systems. With the potential to improve identity infrastructure and reduce fraud, World's technology has the potential to make a significant impact, and its launch in the UK is just the beginning.
