World, the biometric identity verification initiative co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, is making its debut in the United Kingdom this week. The innovative project employs a unique spherical eye-scanning device known as the Orb, which reads and verifies individuals’ irises to confirm they are human, safeguarding against AI-driven impersonation and fraud.
Starting Thursday, London will be the first city to welcome this technology, with plans to expand to other major UK cities such as Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff, Belfast, and Glasgow in the upcoming months.
By scanning both the face and iris, World creates a one-of-a-kind iris code that authenticates users as real people rather than artificial intelligence entities. Those who complete the verification receive some of World’s own cryptocurrency, WLD, and gain access to an anonymous digital ID called World ID. This verification system already integrates with popular platforms like Minecraft, Reddit, and Discord.
Adrian Ludwig, chief architect at Tools for Humanity — a key contributor to World — shared in a call with a major news outlet that demand is growing rapidly from corporations and governments alike, as the risk of AI-enabled fraud in sectors such as banking and online gaming escalates. “What was once a ‘science project’ has now become a tangible network impacting lives daily,” he said, emphasizing the transition from concept to widespread reality.
World recently launched six flagship locations across the US including Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco. Ludwig revealed ambitions to scale the number of verified users by ten times within months.
Since its 2021 inception as “Worldcoin,” the venture has faced privacy concerns. However, the startup insists that all biometric data is encrypted and that original data is promptly deleted after verification. Furthermore, identity checks run on a decentralized network of user devices, rather than centralized cloud servers, enhancing privacy and security.
Ludwig explained that as AI advances, traditional methods like facial recognition or CAPTCHA no longer suffice, and World aims to fill the gap by evolving digital identity verification — a critical need as governments explore moving away from physical ID cards toward digital systems.
While examples like India’s Aadhaar verification have seen success, they have also been criticized for security flaws and social inequality issues. “Governments are increasingly interested in tools that enhance identity infrastructure and reduce fraud,” Ludwig noted.
He added that World has engaged extensively with regulators, including the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office, to ensure privacy and safety concerns are addressed. “We have answered every question so far,” he concluded.
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