World, the biometric ID verification app co-founded by Sam Altman, unveiled its latest version today, introducing several new features including an encrypted chat function and an expanded capability for sending and requesting cryptocurrency, similar to Venmo.
Founded by Tools for Humanity in 2019, World launched its app in 2023. The company aims to develop digital “proof of human” tools to distinguish between real people and AI-generated identities in an increasingly fake digital landscape.
At a small event at World’s headquarters in San Francisco, Altman and co-founder and CEO Alex Blania spoke briefly about the app’s new version, referred to as a “super app.” Altman shared that the idea for World stemmed from discussions about creating a new economic model grounded in web3 principles. “It’s really hard to both identify unique people and do that in a privacy-preserving way,” he explained.
The new feature, World Chat, is meant to tackle this challenge. It employs end-to-end encryption to secure user conversations—comparable to Signal, a privacy-centric messaging app. The chat also features color-coded speech bubbles that indicate if the person you’re chatting with has been verified by World, encouraging users to seek verification to confirm the identity of those they communicate with. This chat function was initially launched in beta in March.
Another significant update is the enhanced digital payment system, now allowing users to send and receive cryptocurrency. Although the World app has served as a digital wallet for some time, the new version expands its capabilities. Users can have their paychecks directly deposited into their World App accounts and convert those funds into crypto, all without needing to be verified by World.
Tiago Sada, World’s chief product officer, told TechCrunch that the addition of chat was driven by user feedback for a more interactive experience. “People wanted a more social World app,” Sada noted. World Chat aims to meet that demand, offering a secure means to converse. “Developing a feature-rich messenger akin to WhatsApp or Telegram, but with the security of Signal, took significant effort,” he commented.
World (formerly known as Worldcoin) utilizes a unique authentication system: users have their eyes scanned at one of the company’s locations, where the Orb—a specialized verification device—transforms their iris into a unique, encrypted digital code. This verified identifier, the World ID, allows users to engage with various services provided by the app.
The newly added social features are clearly intended to boost the app’s adoption, which aligns with the company’s primary challenge of scaling verification. Altman aspires to scan one billion people’s eyes, but Tools for Humanity reports that it has scanned fewer than 20 million so far.
As standing in lines to have your eyes scanned by a large machine may not appeal to everyone, the company is making efforts to simplify the verification process. In April, Tools for Humanity introduced Orb Minis—hand-held, phone-style devices that enable users to scan their own eyes at home. Blania has previously mentioned that the goal is to eventually transform Orb Minis into mobile point-of-sale devices or to license the ID sensor technology to manufacturers. If successful, this could significantly lower the barriers to verification, potentially leading to widespread adoption.
