World Unveils Next-Gen Biometric Orb and Rebrands from Worldcoin
Sam Altman’s controversial digital identity project Worldcoin has rebranded to “World” and unveiled significant updates to its biometric verification system, including a redesigned iris-scanning Orb powered by NVIDIA’s Jetson technology.
The new Orb boasts five times faster AI processing capabilities and uses 30% fewer components than its predecessor, making it more efficient to manufacture and deploy. “To provide access to every human, we need more Orbs. Lots more Orbs. Probably on the order of a thousand times more Orbs than we have today,” said Rich Heley, Tools for Humanity’s chief device officer, during Thursday’s announcement event.
In a notable shift toward accessibility, World is introducing multiple verification methods, including an “Orb on Demand” service that will allow users to request iris scans at their homes “much like a pizza,” according to Heley. The company also plans to establish flagship verification centers in Buenos Aires and Mexico City, while implementing self-service kiosks at retail locations globally.
The rebranding reflects World’s expanding mission beyond cryptocurrency. The platform launched World Chain, a new layer-2 blockchain that prioritizes verified human users with features like free gas allowances and preferred access to block space. The network has already secured partnerships with major blockchain services including Optimism, Uniswap, and Alchemy.
To address privacy concerns, World ID 3.0 now incorporates enhanced security features and supports government-issued identification. The company also introduced “Deep Face,” a tool designed to combat deepfakes by verifying user identity across popular video platforms like FaceTime, WhatsApp, and Zoom.
Despite these advances, World continues to face regulatory scrutiny in various jurisdictions. The project, which has verified nearly 7 million users across 160 countries, aims to create a global “proof of personhood” system for the AI era while maintaining user privacy and security.
