Sam Altman’s Orb Is Watching to Check If You Are Human

A new device called the “Orb” is now being used in places like London and the US to scan people’s eyes. The company Tools for Humanity, which was started by Sam Altman, who is the CEO of OpenAI, and Alex Blania, is responsible for its creation. They say the Orb helps prove that someone is a real human and not a robot or A. To use it, you simply look into a white, beach-ball-sized sphere. A built-in camera records patterns in your iris and face. Within seconds, you get a digital credential called a “World ID” in your smartphone app. This ID shows you’re a unique person. It doesn’t store your face or eye image. Instead, it uses an encrypted code kept only on your device to confirm your humanness. Users receive a bit of cryptocurrency known as Worldcoin, which is about $40 in value, when they confirm their identity. The idea is to encourage more people to join this system. By the end of 2025, Tools for Humanity has set a goal to verify the identities of 50 million people, and they intend to help many more individuals beyond that point. According to the developers, the Orb and its system can help verify real users on platforms such as dating apps, social media sites, and ticket-purchasing services. This could stop fake accounts, bots, and AI-generated content from causing trouble. They believe that as AI becomes more human-like, tools like the Orb will be needed to protect online spaces. The technology has sparked concerns over privacy and safety. Regulators in Germany, Spain, Argentina, and Hong Kong have paused or investigated the project. Concerns exist regarding the safety of biometric information and its handling. Tools for Humanity responded by explaining that the Orb secures data, divides codes among different servers, and does not keep unprocessed images. Despite privacy worries, about 12 million people have already used the Orb since it first launched in 2023. Currently, testing of the system is taking place in six cities in the United States, while it is also growing throughout the UK. The company hopes many more will adopt it, and that online services will integrate World ID for human authentication. Even Sam Altman, one of the project’s founders, says he isn’t sure if the Orb will become mainstream—but he believes “something like this is necessary” for a future full of AI  . The Orb is being positioned as a new trust layer for the internet, helping ensure that users are real humans—today, tomorrow, and beyond.