Tools for Humanity, a startup co-founded by OpenAI’s Sam Altman, is rolling out its eyeball-scanning identification devices called Orbs across the UK. Starting this week, residents in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff, Belfast, and Glasgow can use the Orb technology at dedicated locations in shopping malls and high streets. Damien Kieran, the company’s chief legal and privacy officer, explained that future plans include partnerships with major retailers, allowing people to use self-serve Orbs much like ATMs. This expansion forms part of the company’s global push to bring its unique ID verification system to more markets.
How Orb Technology Works and Its Purpose
The Orb device scans a person’s iris to create a digital credential called World ID, which confirms a user’s unique identity. Those who choose to verify their identity can also receive a cryptocurrency token called Worldcoin. According to Tools for Humanity, the technology helps distinguish humans from increasingly sophisticated AI bots and deepfakes, which pose growing risks such as identity theft and misinformation. Moreover, the company asserts that it does not store any personal or biometric data; instead, the verification data stays securely on the user’s mobile device. This claim addresses some privacy concerns that have arisen worldwide.
Privacy Concerns and Future Growth
Despite its innovative technology, Tools for Humanity has faced regulatory challenges. Various countries, including Germany, Argentina, Spain, and Hong Kong, have raised privacy concerns, leading to investigations and bans in some regions. However, the company continues engaging with regulators, including the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office, to address these issues ahead of its UK launch. To date, around 13 million people across Mexico, Germany, Japan, Korea, Portugal, and Thailand have verified their identities using the Orb system. Currently, 1,500 Orbs are active globally, but the company plans to increase production and distribute 12,000 more devices over the next year. This expansion highlights Tools for Humanity’s ambitions to make its biometric ID technology widely accessible while navigating regulatory hurdles.
