Worldcoin, the Sam Altman-backed digital id initiative, introduced a significant rebrand as World and unveiled formidable plans to develop its consumer base to 1 billion folks throughout a keynote handle on Oct. 17.
The keynote, led by co-founders Altman and Alex Blania, marked a major shift within the undertaking’s trajectory after it introduced a sequence of key updates designed to drive world adoption of its decentralized id platform.
The updates included the launch of World Chain, an Ethereum-secured Layer 2 blockchain, and the revealing of a brand new model of the undertaking’s biometric Orb gadgets.
Accelerating development
The rebranding highlights World Community’s evolving mission, transitioning from its authentic id verification mannequin to a broader, extra decentralized community.
With 15 million customers at the moment, together with 7 million verified by means of its Orb expertise, the platform has set its sights on dramatically growing that quantity because it seems to onboard a billion verified human customers.
Blania, who can also be the CEO of Instruments for Humanity, famous that the undertaking is now targeted on scalability and decentralization. He stated:
“Right now, we’re taking the following massive step in our mission — scaling the World Community to achieve 1 billion customers.”
World’s new model of the Orb, which scans a consumer’s iris to confirm their id, is central to the undertaking’s ambition to develop its world footprint. Blania stated World will triple its manufacturing capability and develop into new nations, together with flagship areas in Buenos Aires and Mexico Metropolis.
The up to date Orbs will likely be made accessible in public areas akin to cafes and can even be deliverable on demand, a part of a wider effort to make verification extra accessible. The rollout of those new Orbs is anticipated by spring 2025.
World Chain and digital id
Alongside the enlargement of its biometric capabilities, World formally launched World Chain, a Layer 2 blockchain constructed on the Ethereum community.
The blockchain is designed to assist thousands and thousands of customers. On its first day, the undertaking claimed 15 million registrations globally. In line with the corporate, this makes World Chain one of many largest human verification blockchains in existence.
The World App, a central element of the undertaking, is being up to date to Model 3.0. This replace will permit customers to handle their World ID credentials and entry different companies, akin to World Pay, a decentralized cost system, and World Chat, a messaging instrument.
The app can even introduce video games and a messaging system known as World Chat to additional interact customers and onboard extra contributors. Altman, who additionally leads OpenAI, stated World goals to be “the nameless human layer for the web,” serving to folks distinguish themselves from AI actors.
He additional emphasised the rising significance of human id verification as AI continues to advance. In line with the OpenAI CEO:
“As AI turns into extra built-in into our lives, having a trusted human verification layer is crucial.”