World and Sam Altman: the Iris as the Key to AI Authentication

In the era of agentic artificial intelligence (AI), the distinction between a human being and an online AI is becoming increasingly difficult. To address this challenge, World, a start-up co-founded by Sam Altman, offers a solution that seems straight out of a dystopia: an orb designed to scan the irises of internet users.

AI agents, capable of navigating the internet, filling out forms, and making purchases autonomously, are multiplying at an impressive rate. However, these agents pose a potential threat to malicious actors, and websites, particularly those in e-commerce, struggle to identify their interlocutors. Traditional protection mechanisms are increasingly being bypassed by these sophisticated AIs.

Founded in 2023, World has developed an innovative system to counter this growing problem. After launching an application last December, the company now offers a developer kit in beta, aimed at enhancing online security.

A Proxy in the Form of Blockchain

The system, dubbed AgentKit, relies on two major technological components:

• World ID, a unique digital identifier
• Protocol x402, an open standard based on blockchain, developed in collaboration with Coinbase and Cloudflare

This protocol allows computer programs to conduct online transactions without human intervention at every step. The user registers their AI agent with their World ID, and when this agent initiates an action on a compatible site, such as a purchase on an e-commerce platform, it automatically transmits cryptographic proof that an identified and verified human is indeed behind the request. It's a sort of proxy. The site then decides whether or not to authorize the transaction.

The Requirement to Scan One's Irises

To obtain a verified World ID, it is imperative to physically visit an orb to have one's irises scanned. This condition is non-negotiable: no remote verification is accepted, as AgentKit is reserved for holders of a World ID obtained through this biometric process.

In practical terms, the orb, or Orb in English, is a spherical device developed by Tools for Humanity, the company behind World. This device captures a high-resolution image of the iris, converts it into a unique and encrypted digital code, and then securely stores it on the user's phone via the World app. Currently, nearly 1,000 Orbs are deployed worldwide, and about 18 million people have already taken the plunge.

Ultimately, Sam Altman's company aims to become the benchmark for certifying the authenticity of AI agents on the internet. However, to achieve this goal, its system must be adopted en masse by billions of people. For now, this objective remains a considerable challenge.