Sam Altman's startup, Tools for Humanity, is expanding its iris-scanning identity verification technology, initially launched as Worldcoin, to the US. The company aims to bridge blockchain and prevalent payment services, addressing concerns over AI-driven deception. Alongside CEO Alex Blania, Altman has secured $240 million in funding from notable investors. The World app scans irises to create unique IDs stored on the blockchain, aiming to counteract scams. Despite facing skepticism and government scrutiny over biometric data handling, the team remains committed to their mission, expanding services as of May 1, 2025.
Proving personhood is a hard thing to productize, and whiffs of a scam have plagued the startup since it launched. The project has also been scrutinized by foreign governments for its biometric data-capture and storage policies.
Altman's iris-scanning, identify-verification technology startup is expanding to the US, and will attempt to bridge the divide between blockchain-based financial networks and the payment services most often used here.
Altman has expressed concern about the amount of fakery that new AI tools will enable... So the World app... scans people's irises, creates a unique user ID, stores that information on the blockchain.
Blania serves as CEO, while Altman remains his most prominent backer. As of March 2025, the company had raised $240 million in venture capital funding.
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