Sam Altman’s digital identity effort World has made its official U.S. launch.
As the Financial Times (FT) reported late Wednesday (April 30), the debut of this project — which spans eyeball-scanning technology and a digital token — arrives as the U.S. government is taking a pro-cryptocurrency stance.
World initially launched its product in 25 countries, an effort that began last year. The company’s founders assert that a reliable method for differentiating humans from computers is crucial as artificial intelligence (AI) advances.
World fabricates eyeball-scanning “orbs” that generate unique IDs, permitting users to access the group’s Worldcoin token. The company is aiming to deploy around 10,000 orbs in the American market over the next 12 months.
The company is also developing a super app that Altman and CEO Alex Blania say could eventually rival X, should that company pursue plans for its own super app.
Earlier this year, rumors circulated that World was in discussions with Visa to integrate on-chain card capabilities into the group’s self-custody crypto wallet. This follows the company’s launch of its crypto token in March, which was met with mixed reactions due to concerns about the company’s handling of user data.
Earlier this year, Spain blocked World, citing worries about the company collecting personal data from minors. World has also faced bans, fines or investigations in France, Portugal, Hong Kong and Kenya.
However, research by PYMNTS Intelligence has found that a significant portion of U.S. consumers are already familiar with and utilizing biometric authentication methods. In fact, the data indicates that a majority of consumers who shop online also use biometric authentication to verify their purchases.
