San Francisco Start-up Uses Eye-Scanning Orbs to Verify Human Users and Fight AI Bots

A new San Francisco-based start-up, World, co-founded by Sam Altman, is using a novel approach to verify the identity of online users by scanning their eyes. The initiative aims to combat the growing threat of AI bots infiltrating online spaces, including social media, gaming platforms, and dating sites. These bots, powered by artificial intelligence, could soon become indistinguishable from human users, posing significant challenges for online interactions. The start-up’s solution involves scanning participants’ eyeballs in exchange for cryptocurrency and a unique identifier known as a World ID. The launch event, held in San Francisco’s Marina district, showcased this technology, which some may find unsettling due to its futuristic and intrusive nature. The goal of World is to ensure that online interactions remain human-driven in a future that could otherwise be dominated by AI-driven bots. While this initiative represents a bold step forward in combating digital deception, it raises questions about privacy, security, and the implications of tracking human identity in such an intimate manner.