Sam Altman and World Revolutionize AI Shopping with AgentKit

World and Proof of Humanity: A Response to Encroaching AI

World, a company co-founded by Sam Altman, is dedicated to developing technologies that verify human identity online. This initiative, termed "proof of humanity," aims to address the proliferation of AI-generated content, often of questionable quality. Sam Altman, also at the helm of OpenAI, has faced criticism for contributing to this situation, even though he anticipated these issues by creating World.

Launch of the AgentKit Tool by Tools for Humanity

This week, Tools for Humanity (TFH), the startup behind World, unveiled the beta version of a new verification tool. This tool is designed to support the development of agentic commerce, an emerging practice where AI programs browse the web and make purchases on behalf of users.

The Stakes of Agentic Commerce

The increasing use of AI agents to navigate websites and make purchases promises automated convenience. However, this trend also raises concerns about new forms of fraud, spam, and other large-scale abuses on the internet.

AgentKit: An Innovative Solution

On Tuesday, World introduced its solution: AgentKit, a software development tool for commercial sites. This tool allows the integration of a verification system that confirms a real human is behind the purchasing decisions of an agent.

The Role of World ID in Verification

AgentKit relies on the World ID, which is the cornerstone of TFH's verification system. The most secure version of this World ID is obtained through an eye scan of the user via World’s Orb device. The Orb converts the iris into a unique, encrypted digital code, the verified World ID, which can be used to access TFH's ecosystem of services through the World app.

Integration with the x402 Protocol

AgentKit enables the integration of a user's World ID into a recently launched payment system known as the x402 protocol. Developed by Coinbase and Cloudflare, x402 is an open standard based on blockchain that allows automated computer programs to transact directly online, without human intervention at every step. To use AgentKit, users simply need to register their AI agents with their World ID, which then communicates to websites, via the x402 system, that a distinct and verified human approves the purchasing decisions of the agent.

An Extension of the x402 Protocol

“AgentKit is designed as a complementary extension to the x402 v2 protocol, in coordination with Coinbase,” Tools for Humanity stated in a release. The integration is designed so that any site already using x402 can enable unique human verification proof in parallel (or instead of) micropayments.

Comparison to Power of Attorney

In an interview with TechCrunch, Tiago Sada, product director at TFH, compared this new feature to delegating a "power of attorney" to an agent. By verifying that the AI program acts on behalf of a particular user, a website can decide whether or not to trust transactions initiated by these agents, Sada explained. “What the World ID badge tells you is that someone is a real and unique human,” he clarified, noting that sites can still choose to block certain users they believe are acting in bad faith.

A Beta Version for Developers

AgentKit is currently offered in beta to developers, with the hope that feedback will help refine it over time. Sada also noted that consumers will need to have a verified World ID, derived from an Orb scan, to benefit from this type of verification.

The Rise of Agentic Commerce

This is a timely movement. Major e-commerce sites and financial services have already begun adopting agentic commerce. Last year, companies like Amazon and MasterCard introduced automated purchasing capabilities on their platforms, and Google recently launched its own protocol designed to support this trend. As this field develops, the industry will undoubtedly seek to establish safeguards to ensure its reliability and stability. World is clearly trying to position itself as the provider of that stability.