Worldcoin Launches Portable Orb Mini for Human Verification
Tools for Humanity, the company behind the Worldcoin project co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, has unveiled the Orb Mini. This portable device aims to distinguish humans from AI online. The announcement coincided with the company's "At Last" event in San Francisco and the launch of the World Network in the U.S.
Worldcoin, formerly known as Worldcoin, uses iris scans to provide users with a unique digital identifier on a blockchain. This acts as proof of personhood in an increasingly digital world. The Orb Mini, designed by former Apple designer Thomas Meyerhoff, offers a more portable verification method than the original Orb.
Expanding Access to Human Verification
While the Orb Mini resembles a smartphone, its primary function is human verification, not typical phone features. Its purpose is to expand Worldcoin's reach and sign up millions more users. The company claims 26 million sign-ups and 12 million verifications globally, with a strong presence in Latin America, South America, and Asia.
To further expand access in the U.S., Worldcoin is opening storefronts in Austin, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, and San Francisco. These locations will allow people to get verified using the Orb.
The Future of Worldcoin and AI
A key question remains about potential collaboration between Worldcoin and OpenAI. It is currently unclear whether the Orb Mini has AI features or if it relates to OpenAI's reported AI hardware project. Worldcoin's focus on proof of personhood raises questions about the future of digital identity in the age of AI.
Worldcoin's expansion efforts with the Orb Mini and new storefronts signal a strong push to establish its human verification system globally. The project aims to address the growing challenge of differentiating between humans and AI online.
