Sam Altman’s project World looks to scale its human verification empire. First stop: Tinder.

At a lively event held near the San Francisco waterfront, Sam Altman introduced the next chapter of his verification initiative, World, marking a significant leap in its expansion plans. The project, developed by Tools for Humanity, has chosen Tinder as its launch partner for a suite of new verification technologies aimed at various sectors, including dating, event ticketing, and business applications. "As we approach an era dominated by advanced AI, we must ensure that our interactions remain authentic," Altman stated before an enthusiastic audience at The Midway. He emphasized the growing concern about differentiating between human and AI interactions, a challenge World intends to tackle with its innovative approach to identity verification. What sets World apart from other verification solutions is its commitment to verifying real human users while safeguarding their privacy. The technology utilizes an advanced cryptographic method known as “zero-knowledge proof-based authentication.” This allows for the creation of what the company terms “proof of human” tools, which can confirm human engagement in an increasingly automated digital landscape. Central to World’s verification process is the Orb, a spherical device that scans users' irises to create a unique, anonymous cryptographic identifier referred to as a verified World ID. While users can access the World app without an ID, those who complete the verification process gain additional benefits. During the event, Altman briefly spoke before handing over the floor to Tiago Sada, World’s chief product officer, who detailed the launch of the latest version of the app and highlighted new integrations. Notably, Tinder is set to roll out a verification feature globally after a successful pilot program in Japan last year. This feature will showcase a World ID emblem on user profiles, confirming their authenticity as real individuals. World is also making strides in the entertainment sector with the introduction of a feature called Concert Kit. This initiative allows artists to reserve concert tickets specifically for World ID-verified fans, combating ticket scalping issues often exacerbated by automated bots. Concert Kit is compatible with leading ticketing platforms such as Ticketmaster and Eventbrite, with partnerships already established with artists like 30 Seconds to Mars and Bruno Mars for their upcoming tours. In addition to entertainment, the company is pursuing business collaborations, including a partnership with Zoom to enhance verification during virtual meetings and a DocuSign integration aimed at ensuring signatures are from genuine users. Furthermore, World is developing features to navigate the complexities of an increasingly agent-driven web, including a system that allows users to delegate their World ID to an agent for online tasks. Scaling the verification process has posed challenges, particularly due to the need for physical visits to Orb locations for the gold standard verification. In response, World has been expanding access points in cities like New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco and is introducing a remote verification service where users can request an Orb to their location. To address accessibility, Sada mentioned that World has created multiple verification tiers. The highest tier requires an Orb scan, while a mid-level option utilizes an anonymized scan of a government-issued ID. Recently, a new low-level option called “Selfie Check” was introduced, allowing users to verify their identity through a selfie, though Sada acknowledged its limitations in terms of security. Developers interested in integrating World’s verification services now have the flexibility to choose from these three tiers, aligning their security needs with the appropriate verification level. This strategy aims to enhance user privacy while responding to the growing demands of digital interaction verification in the age of AI.