Gushiken Yona
OpenAI has reportedly reached the early development stages of its own social networking platform designed to eliminate automated bots through biometric verification. World (WLD) token prices surged approximately 27% Thursday after reports revealed the project exists. Developers focus on establishing a “proof of personhood” standard as the primary technical objective for digital interaction. Altman’s attempt to build a human-only social environment addresses a growing crisis of machine-generated content in digital feeds.
Key Points
- OpenAI develops a biometric social network using World’s iris-scanning tech to eliminate automated bots from digital feeds.
- World (WLD) token surged 27% following reports of fewer than 10 developers building the human-only application.
- Regulatory bans in Hong Kong and Portugal highlight privacy tensions over centralizing unchangeable biometric identifiers for social access.
Fewer than 10 developers currently build the application, according to reports. Restricted access serves as the platform’s core value proposition. Authenticating users through Apple’s Face ID or iris-scanning “Orb” hardware provides the reported gateway to a “real-humans-only” environment. World, a firm co-founded by Altman, developed the scanning technology appearing in initial technical tests.
Biometric Mandates to Counter Bot Proliferation
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman frequently criticizes the declining quality of discourse on platforms like X. Altman’s used X since 2008 and voiced frustration regarding the current volume of automated accounts. He often references “dead internet theory,” which posits that non-human scripts currently dominate social media feeds.
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Altman posted on X in September that AI-run accounts made social media feel hollow compared to the landscape of two years ago. “I never took the dead internet theory that seriously but it seems like there are really a lot of LLM [AI]-run twitter accounts now,” he wrote. Reports suggest the new OpenAI initiative seeks to render bot farms obsolete by tying every verified profile to a unique biological signature.
Global Regulatory Barriers to Iris Scanning
The reliance on iris-scanning technology brings immediate regulatory risks. Governments across the globe previously suspended or banned World Orb operations due to privacy violations. Regulators in Hong Kong, Portugal, and Kenya cited the sensitivity of biometric data as the primary reason for these restrictions. Official investigations often focus on the potential misuse of personal identifiers stored on centralized servers.
Privacy advocates argue that unchangeable iris scans pose an irreversible risk in the event of a database compromise. Critics suggest a social network remains vulnerable if it centralizes biological data. Legal challenges facing Altman’s Tools for Humanity create a difficult path for OpenAI if the project uses the Orb as its global identity standard. Regulatory scrutiny will likely intensify as the project moves closer to an official rollout.
Related: New AI Agent ‘Clawdbot’ Exposes Users to Remote Hijacking
Cryptocurrency Markets and Big Tech Competition
Speculation regarding World Orb hardware links the social project to cryptocurrency markets. Altman chairs Tools for Humanity, the firm behind the $WLD token. Investors monitored a significant price surge for the token on Thursday as news of the internal project spread.
OpenAI continues testing social features through official channels independently of this reported project. The company initiated group chat pilots for ChatGPT in November. These tests operate in New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. Entering the social media sector puts OpenAI in competition with established giants including Meta and ByteDance. The industry stays focused on whether users intend to adopt a network that requires physical biometrics as the price of admission.
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YONA GUSHIKEN
Yona brings a decade of experience covering gaming, tech, and blockchain news. As one of the few women in crypto journalism, her mission is to demystify complex technical subjects for a wider audience. Her work blends professional insight with engaging narratives, aiming to educate and entertain.
