Sam Altman’s World App Launches New Version: Encrypted Chat & Crypto Payments

Staff Report: PNN

Sam Altman’s co-founded biometric identity verification project, World, has unveiled a new version of its app. The updated app features fully encrypted chat and the ability to send and receive cryptocurrencies, similar to Venmo.

World, developed in 2019 through the startup Tools for Humanity, aims to create a digital “proof of person” system to differentiate humans from bots. The app was first released in 2023.

At a brief event on Friday at World’s San Francisco headquarters, Altman and CEO Alex Blania introduced the new version. Altman said World was conceived to meet the need for a new type of economic model based on Web3 principles. He noted: “Verifying a human while preserving privacy is very challenging.”

The new World chat messenger allows users to communicate securely, using encryption comparable to Signal. Chat bubbles are color-coded to show whether the other party is verified, enabling confident communication with verified humans.

Another key feature is the expansion of the app’s digital payment system. Users can send and receive crypto, receive salaries, and deposit from banks, which can later be converted to cryptocurrency. Verification through World’s identification process is not mandatory to use this feature.

World’s verification process involves users scanning their iris with a device called ORB at the company’s office. The encrypted iris data generates a unique World ID, which can be used for app services. Tools for Humanity has also launched ORB Mini, a handheld device allowing users to scan their eyes at home. Plans exist to sell ORB Mini to mobile point-of-sale devices and other hardware manufacturers, making verification easier and widely accessible.

World aims to verify one billion people, though fewer than 20 million have been scanned so far. With new social-based features, the company expects more people to join the app and accelerate verification.