Tools for Humanity, the startup co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, unveiled its new mobile verification device at the "At Last" event in San Francisco. The device is designed to serve as a tool for distinguishing humans from artificial intelligence (AI) agents.
Rich Heley, Chief Device Officer of Tools for Humanity and a former Apple director, introduced the new device, Orb Mini, at the event. The device features a smartphone-like design with two large sensors on the front for scanning users' eyeballs.
World, a web3 project initially known as Worldcoin, was founded by Sam Altman and Alex Blania. The primary goal of this project is to provide digital tools for verifying human identity, as distinguishing between humans and AI agents on the internet is becoming increasingly difficult. The project aims to involve millions of people worldwide in this verification system.
The Orb Mini is a smaller, more portable version of the previously introduced Orb devices. While its primary function is human verification, there are no details yet on additional capabilities related to apps. Blania also mentioned that the device could eventually evolve into a mobile point-of-sale device, and the sensor technology could be sold to other device manufacturers.
Tools for Humanity is also expanding its presence in the U.S. with new storefronts opening in Austin, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, and San Francisco. These stores will allow people to undergo eyeball scanning using Orb devices.
The World project has already signed up 26 million users worldwide, with 12 million having completed the verification process. This announcement aims to extend the project's reach in the U.S. and introduce the verification system to a broader audience.
While details about the Orb Mini's future functionality and a potential collaboration with OpenAI remain unclear, the device is clearly part of a broader effort to expand human verification systems on a global scale.
