Sam Altman’s World unveils a mobile verification device

Tools for Humanity, the startup behind Sam Altman’s World (formerly Worldcoin), has launched a new mobile device called the Orb Mini — a compact version of its original iris-scanning Orb. Debuted at the company’s “At Last” event in San Francisco, the Orb Mini is designed to verify if someone is human by scanning their eyeballs and issuing a unique blockchain-based ID. It resembles a smartphone but is built primarily for identity verification, not communication.

Why it matters:
As AI agents become increasingly indistinguishable from real people online, World is positioning itself as the foundation for digital “proof of personhood.” The Orb Mini brings that mission closer to scale by making human verification more accessible and portable. With over 26 million sign-ups and 12 million verifications, World is aiming to standardize human identity online — starting now with a major U.S. rollout that includes storefronts in six cities. The company also hinted at future use cases, like point-of-sale devices and licensing the sensor tech to manufacturers.

Public reaction:
The announcement has reignited both curiosity and skepticism. Supporters see the Orb Mini as a necessary step toward protecting identity in the age of AI, praising its design pedigree (built by former Apple engineers) and ambition. Critics, however, remain wary of biometric data collection and blockchain-based identity systems, calling the project dystopian or overly ambitious. The lack of clarity on AI integration or any ties to OpenAI’s rumored device has also sparked fresh speculation about Altman’s endgame.