Sam Altman’s World project is betting the internet needs a way to prove you’re human. And it’s racing to embed that system everywhere before regulators shut it down.

World, the controversialproject that scans its users’ eyeballs to create a nontransferrable digital identity, unveiled on Friday what it calls its most significant upgrade yet.

The update introduces a redesigned architecture intended to improve privacy, security, and usability. New features include account-based identity, multi-key support, and recovery mechanisms.

World argues that its biometric verification system will become essential as AI-generated bots and deepfakes make it harder to distinguish humans from machines online. To that end, the company is deepening its partnerships with popular consumer platforms like Tinder and Zoom, alongside enterprise tools like Docusign. The idea is to position World ID as the internet’s default “proof-of-humanity” layer.

World’s entire system relies on its custom-built “Orb” device to establish what is calls proof-of-humanity. To obtain a World ID, users must head to a device in person, get their eyeballs scanned and generate a unique cryptographic code. Users would also receive WLD tokens in return for scanning their irises.

Myriad partnerships

On Friday, World detailed partnerships aimed at embedding its identity layer across consumer platforms.

The company is expanding its partnership with Tinder, where users can display a “verified human” badge, and rolled out “Concert Kit,” a tool to help artists reserve tickets for verified individuals to combat scalper bots.

World also said it is working with Zoom on a feature called “Deep Face,” which verifies that a meeting participant is a real human rather than a deepfake, and with Docusign to incorporate proof-of-human checks into digital agreements.

Finally, the company is also rolling out “AgentKit,” which allows verified humans to delegate their credentials to AI agents, enabling services to confirm a real person authorised automated actions like purchases or meeting bookings.

Regulatory headwinds

Notwithstanding its lofty goals, World has faced regulatory scrutiny across multiple jurisdictions.

In November 2025, Thai data protection authorities orderedWorld to delete over 1.2 million iris scan records and suspend all operations in the country.

In December 2024, Germany’s data protection agency declaredthat World had violated data privacy rules and ordered it to delete iris codes it had collected.

Authorities in Spain and Portugal suspended the company from operating in those countries in 2024 after receiving complaints that minors were being scanned.

And in October 2025, Colombia’s data protection regulator orderedthe immediate closure of World’s data processing operations following a seven-month investigation.

Hong Kongand Singapore have taken similar actions.

Pedro Solimano is a markets correspondent based in Buenos Aires. Got a tip? Email him at [email protected].

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