The Creator of ChatGPT Launches World: A Secure Messenger with Identity Verification
The World project (formerly known as Worldcoin), founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, has unveiled an updated application. It is a hybrid of a messenger and a financial service, with the primary goal of protecting users from bots and deepfakes through identity verification.
At the core of the system is World ID, a digital passport issued after scanning the iris of the eye using a special device called Orb. The process has now been simplified thanks to compact versions of the device, known as Orb Mini, which can even be used at home.
Key features of the application:
• World Chat — an end-to-end encrypted messenger similar to Signal. Within conversations, the system displays special labels indicating whether the interlocutor has been verified through an eye scan or is using a regular account.
• “Proof of Humanity” — users can immediately understand whether they are communicating with a real, unique person or with a bot farm.
• Financial module — the application functions as a crypto wallet and money transfer service. Users can request payments, receive salaries, and convert funds into cryptocurrency directly within the interface.
The demand for creating a “social” service came directly from users. Developers aim to transform World from a narrow crypto tool into a daily-use application comparable to WhatsApp or Telegram, but with a significantly higher level of security.
Biometric verification is not mandatory for basic payments; however, identity verification through iris scanning remains the main line of defense against AI-generated fakes online. Currently, the service has fewer than 20 million users, but the creators’ ambitious goal is to reach one billion users worldwide.
ORIENT
