Sam Altman's latest venture looks like something out of science fiction: a white, basketball-sized sphere that peers into your eyes with an array of cameras and sensors. The Orb, as it's called, is designed to solve what Altman believes is one of the most pressing challenges of our time—proving you're human in an age of artificial intelligence.

The device works by scanning your iris, mapping its unique pattern, and generating what the company calls an "iris code"—a 12,800-digit binary sequence that serves as your digital fingerprint. In exchange for this biometric data, users receive approximately $42 worth of cryptocurrency called Worldcoin, part of Altman's ambitious plan to create a global "proof-of-humanity" network.

"We needed some way for identifying, authenticating humans in the age of AGI," Altman explains, referring to artificial general intelligence. "We wanted a way to make sure that humans stayed special and central." The project, which launched publicly in July 2023, has already scanned millions of irises across 35 countries, with the goal of reaching 50 million verifications by 2025.

"We needed some way for identifying, authenticating humans in the age of AGI. We wanted a way to make sure that humans stayed special and central."

The technology behind Worldcoin represents a convergence of several cutting-edge fields: biometric identification, blockchain technology, and cryptocurrency. Users who verify their humanity through the Orb receive a cryptographic "World ID" that can theoretically be used across the internet to prove they're not a bot or AI system.

But the project has faced significant skepticism and regulatory challenges. Privacy advocates worry about the implications of a centralized database of biometric data, even though Worldcoin claims the iris codes are anonymized and the original scan data is deleted. Governments in several countries have suspended or banned the Orb scanning operations, citing data protection concerns.

The rollout has been particularly aggressive in developing countries, where the $42 cryptocurrency reward represents a more significant sum relative to local wages. Critics argue this creates an exploitative dynamic, potentially coercing people into trading their biometric data for immediate financial gain without fully understanding the long-term implications.

Altman argues that such a system will become necessary as AI becomes more sophisticated. "In a world where AI can generate increasingly convincing text, images, and videos, how do we distinguish between human-created and AI-generated content?" he asks. "How do we ensure that humans retain agency and control in digital spaces?"

The Worldcoin project also includes plans for universal basic income distribution through cryptocurrency, funded by the growing value of the Worldcoin token. The idea is that as AI automation displaces human jobs, verified humans could receive regular cryptocurrency payments to support themselves.

Technical experts have raised questions about the system's scalability and security. Storing and managing biometric data for billions of people presents enormous technical challenges, and any security breach could have catastrophic consequences. There are also concerns about the centralization of such a system under the control of a single organization.

Despite the controversies, Altman remains optimistic about the project's potential. He envisions a future where World ID becomes the standard for human verification online, integrated into social media platforms, financial services, and government systems. The goal is to create a more trustworthy internet where users can verify their humanity without revealing their identity.

As AI continues to advance and the line between human and artificial intelligence blurs, projects like Worldcoin represent one possible path forward. Whether Altman's vision of iris-scanned identity verification becomes reality or remains a curious footnote in tech history may depend on society's willingness to trade privacy for authenticity in the digital age.