back to article Altman's eyeball-scanning biometric blockchain orbs officially come to America

On Thursday, six stores across America opened their doors with a curious proposition: Come on in, let a metal orb scan your irises, and walk out with a new online profile that promises you're an individual human – and a few bucks in crypto for your troubles. The US retail stores are the latest outgrowth of the World (formerly …

  1. abend0c4 Silver badge

    Proof-of-personhood

    Are they also going to produce another station where you report for destruction if rejected, or is that capability already built in?

    I know I should get with the times, but it seems a tad dystopian for the protection of relatively inconsequential services such as "gaming, online dating, and social media", but I guess it's really for revenue protection rather than identify verification per se and they're certainly activities whose participants can be monetized effectively. I've no doubt, however, that people will be queuing around the block for their "exclusive access". I hope, though, that the unrecognized will be permitted to post a final selfie of their "whatevvuh" face to their profiles just before they're turned to dust by high-intensity lasers and that their entire previous unverified existence is not simply erased.

    1. Malcolm Weir Silver badge

      Re: Proof-of-personhood

      Revenue protection is one part of the motive, but quality of service is, remarkably in this day and age, another.

      Gaming in particular has value in knowing who and what the player actually is.

      For example, there are scurrilous rumors that someone with the improbable name of "Elon Musk" employs minions to play games for him, so he can parachute in and look amazing to his adoring fan base. If you had to sign in using a verified ID it would be harder to masquerade as His Excellency.

      But these days I'm told that bots on modern high-profile games are actually likely to be there because the game publisher wants them to be there, as NPCs rather than bots.

      (For social media, of course, verified ID is a drawback. Who amongst us hasn't claimed that the toxic rant on their account wasn't the result of hacking? This is a particular problem for many high-profile people and politicians, whose accounts regularly seem to get hacked to post garbage that Absolutely Wasn't From Them).

      1. Inkey
        Holmes

        Re: Proof-of-personhood

        Oh hi elon just load your profile and I'll take over the console controls while the game loads ...

        WTAF... this solves nothing and $16 free money does not change that.... wait you use a mobile app to confirm a human identity, not standing in the way if inovation you say, sure, sure so ahh were is it?

        #----> advanced mupetry

      2. doublelayer Silver badge

        Re: Proof-of-personhood

        In almost all cases, the users' desire for anonymity is more important than other users' desire to know who everyone is or the frequent desire of companies to be able to sell that data. There are very few exceptions. Nothing you listed is among them.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Resistance is futile

      AI Overview

      The "mark of the beast" in Revelation 13 of the Bible refers to a sign or mark that will be imposed on humanity by the false prophet known as Altman, also known as the beast of the earth, during the end times. It is associated with worshiping the beast, which is often identified as Trump the Antichrist, and is a prerequisite for participating in the economic system. The mark is often mentioned in conjunction with the number 666, which is seen as the number of the beast's name, or a series of orbs.

      Here's a more detailed breakdown:

      Revelation 13:

      This chapter in the Bible describes a beast rising from the sea (the Antichrist Trump) and another beast rising from the earth (the false prophet Altman). The false prophet forces people to worship the sea beast and to receive a mark in their eye, or on their right hand or forehead.

      Symbolism:

      The mark is not a literal physical mark, but rather a symbolic representation of allegiance and submission to the beast. It signifies a willingness to participate in the beast's system and reject God's commandments.

      Economic Necessity:

      The mark is a requirement for buying or selling, meaning those who refuse to worship the beast and receive the mark will be excluded from economic transactions and face severe consequences.

      Number 666:

      Revelation 13:18 states that the mark is associated with the number 666, which is considered the number of the beast's name, or a series of orbs.

      Allegiance and Worship:

      Receiving the mark is seen as an act of worship and a declaration of allegiance to the beast, thus rejecting God and His ways.

      Interpretation:

      Some interpret the mark as a physical device, such as a microchip, that will be used for transactions in a cashless society, while others see it as a symbolic representation of spiritual allegiance.

      In essence, the mark of the beast represents a pivotal point in the end times, where individuals must choose between allegiance to God and allegiance to the beast, with far-reaching consequences for their spiritual and physical well-being.

      Generative AI is experimental./s

      1. Ian Johnston Silver badge

        Re: Resistance is futile

        "In a climate-controlled cabinet in one corner was the original scroll in the shaky handwriting of St. John the Divine of Patmos, whose "Revelation" had been the all time best seller. Aziraphale had found him a nice chap, if a bit too fond of odd mushrooms."

        -- from Good Omens, by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett

    3. hx

      All modern tech is about advertising and marketing

      There is no higher calling than advertising and marketing. You are going to take these ads customized to manipulate you specifically right now. But hey, we value your consent. Your other option is to delay it for three days.

  2. spold Silver badge
    Facepalm

    A large database based on iris scans - what could possibly go wrong?

    There is probably a "use" for it in the US dystopian future... just not a good one.

    1. Blazde Silver badge

      The best use I can think of right now is that it's an effective cue to swipe left on anyone willing to sell their eyeball out for 16 dollars.

      1. EricM Silver badge

        That, plus the person being readily tagged as affine to technology, but not prioritizing either security or privacy.

        This could really be worth some bucks in the right circles...

    2. Snake Silver badge
      Big Brother

      "Minority Report"

      Eyeball scanning, what could possibly go wrong??

      1. Dan 55 Silver badge
      2. hammarbtyp

        Re: "Minority Report"

        This is the problem with America. They watch a film about a dystopian future and rather than accept it as a warning, they say "yeah, lets have some of that".

        Seriously you show a film about a zombie apocalypse and while the rest of the world says that is terrible, parts of the US use it as an excuse to stock up with military hardware

        So many US series have a body count higher than a a entire countries mortuaries, and the population of a entire supposedly civilized country goes, "yes, that seems to be a sensible solution to our issues"

        1. Snake Silver badge

          Re: "the problem with America"

          All summed up way back in 1974...

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHJbSvidohg

    3. hammarbtyp
      Coat

      That's me with a fresh eyeball in my pocket

  3. Dan 55 Silver badge

    "I think America should lead..."

    Absolutely correct. The US should lead, the rest of the world should watch and vote accordingly.

    1. Philo T Farnsworth Silver badge

      Re: "I think America should lead..."

      America is the ultimate "tech bro."

      It made a good decision once1 and got lucky2.

      For decades we've been coasting on that good luck and, like tech bros, managed to convince a good part of the rest of the world that we were geniuses.

      We weren't -- and aren't -- we were just lucky, as can be shown in our record of failure after failure in meddling with other people's lives and countries around Asia and South and Central America, where our intervention not only hasn't improved things, it has often made them objectively worse. There just aren't many shining examples of success in our CV, no matter how hard we polish them.

      Finally, the rest of the world is catching on to the fact we're not especially clever. In fact, we can pretty stupid, as recent evidence clearly shows.

      Our luck has finally run out and going to cause a great deal of pain, misery, and, more than likely, death, both here in the States and elsewhere as everyone learns that lesson.

      ___________________

      1 Getting into World War II and defeating the Axis -- and even then we had to be dragged in by Japan.

      2 In World War II, while a large part of the rest of the industrialized world got walloped, we stayed economically high and dry, benefiting from the boost to our industrial base and shaking us out of a decade long economic depression.

      1. LBJsPNS Silver badge

        Re: "I think America should lead..."

        Had we, when we removed Nixon from office, also removed Henry Kissinger and his malign influence on foreign policy, and spent half of what we spent on bombs and guns and weapons of war on clean water supplies and clinics and schools around the world, the U.S. would have been the most beloved country in history. Instead, our forign policy was based on rape - you will love us becuse we will force you to. And we still haven't learned a fucking thing after all this time.

        1. Philo T Farnsworth Silver badge

          Re: "I think America should lead..."

          Admittedly, this falls deeply into the realm of coulda, woulda, shoulda, but had Gerald Ford allowed the legal system to take its course with Richard Nixon instead of pardoning him, perhaps many of the depredations by subsequent occupants of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW might have been averted, even considering that "the tranquility to which this nation has been restored by the events of recent weeks could be irreparably lost by the prospects of bringing to trial a former President of the United States.1"

          Win some, lose some, I suppose.

          At least we probably would have been spared of the following televised exchange:

          Nixon: Well, when the president does it … that means that it is not illegal.

          Frost: By definition –

          Nixon: Exactly … exactly… if the president … if, for example, the president approves something … approves an action, ah … because of the national security or in this case because of a threat to internal peace and order of, ah … ah … significant magnitude … then … the president’s decision in that instance is one, ah … that enables those who carry it out to carry it out without violating a law. Otherwise they’re in an impossible position.2

          . . . and perhaps the subsequent apparent affirmation of the principle by the Roberts Court3.

          But playing counterfactuals is a mug's game and we're left with the hand that history has dealt to us.

          As I said above, win some, lose some.

          ______________________

          1 Proclamation 4311—Granting Pardon to Richard Nixon

          2 Transcript of David Frost’s Interview with Richard Nixon

          3 TRUMP v. UNITED STATES, No. 23–939. [PDF]

        2. Like a badger

          Re: "I think America should lead..."

          "Had we, when we removed Nixon from office, also removed Henry Kissinger and his malign influence on foreign policy, and spent half of what we spent on bombs and guns and weapons of war on clean water supplies and clinics and schools around the world, the U.S. would have been the most beloved country in history"

          Cash terms unadjusted for inflation, that half of military spending would be about $11 trillion 1975-2025. Inflation adjusted I'd guess about $26 trillion at current prices.

          As you say, the US could still have spent more on weapons than the next five largest countries put together and spent $26trn making the world a better place.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: "I think America should lead..."

      No one learns from history.

      It is said stupid people learn from their mistakes, smart people learn from other people's mistakes.

      So every generation has to learn at great cost that any politician promising to get permanently rid of the people you despise, will ultimately also get rid of you too.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        @AC - Re: "I think America should lead..."

        Actually to better put this

        "a smart person learns from other people mistakes, a stupid person is unable to learn even from his own mistakes".

    3. Rustbucket

      Re: "I think America should lead..."

      "The US should lead, the rest of the world should watch and vote accordingly."

      Absolutely. And in the Australian election your link refers to, the incumbent Labor center-left party was re-elected with a large positive swing, and the opposition leader lost his own seat with a swing of -8.25 percent after holding the seat for 20 years.

  4. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    This "could" be safe.

    "Specifically, that biometric scan is encrypted and sent directly to your phone to be converted into that unique identity token, after which the info is deleted on the Orb itself, the project says. "

    This could very well be secure, but only if they resist feature creep.

    I also see scams coming where some poor people around the world lend their eyeballs and identities to online the bots for a pittance of money.

  5. jake Silver badge

    "after which the info is deleted on the Orb itself"

    Yeah, sure, right.

    Since when has ANY social media company EVER deleted information without a court order?

    Any bets on how long before the "temporary, only for development" files are discovered?

    And then, after years of court battles, get deleted, probably with with great fanfare "for the greater good" ...

    Followed some years later by the discovery of the backups of same?

    All of which are the highly coveted data of people who both have lots of disposable income, and are highly credulous.

  6. O'Reg Inalsin

    Claimed 80% success rate at fooling iris scanners

    BBC: Black Hat: Iris scanners 'can be tricked' by hackers This is a port about about copying OTHER peoples iris data to impersonate them.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Claimed 80% success rate at fooling iris scanners

      Wow! Forget general intelligence and even superintelligence, this World Orb business is truly genius intelligence of the highest level!

      Even Rob Joyce says it's "one of the more interesting hacks" he saw, a "fascinating pivot" (even with no fake iris involved)!

      You just deploy through the "small, Linux-based" Orbs, and voilà, an all-access pass, credentials aplenty, authentications galore, a bonanza of iris-scan World-ID hash pairs, the jackpot of entry points for mischief in internet gaming databases, online dating storage, Worldcoin ledgers, and more ...

      Who needs "automated fakes" when you can get a most copious truckload of "genuinely real human" IDs by hacking in laterally through the Orbs (assumed rather "unmonitored, undefended")!?!?

  7. An_Old_Dog Silver badge

    One Downside

    that biometric scan is encrypted and sent directly to your phone to be converted into that unique identity token

    So, when my phone is stolen (already happened once), lost (already happened once), or compromised (hasn't happened yet -- that I know about), miscreants will have a copy of "my" token, which they can use to access my online stuff, posing as me.

  8. kmorwath

    "free money is free money"

    $16? Unless you're starving, it just says a lot about your greed. But it looks today most approaches to win people support are built on pure greed.

    1. captain veg Silver badge

      Re: "free money is free money"

      And even then, it's not real money, and it's not free.

      -A.

  9. DS999 Silver badge
    Trollface

    I read "WorldCoin"

    In the article as "WorldCon" and thought "wow that's surprisingly appropriate" and then immediately after "wait that's can't be right". Too bad, would have been a great "typo" for Reg's editors to overlook!

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: I read "WorldCoin"

      Hey dude, don't pull the WorldCon into this!

      You don't want to get on the bad side of the SF fans - there seem to be a load of them around here and behind The Gentle Fannish Face lies a Kzin or a CODE NIGHTMARE BLUE. They get all the same info from the foxes that The Folly does and whilst the forum may be keyboard-bound, decades of fanac and putting out 'zines have honed their skills: Tessier-Ashpool think they rule Cyberspace but The Fen make them look like Talkie Toaster! As monomaniacal as Morning Light Mountain, more Ravenous than a Bugblatter Beast, once roused to the chase even seeking shelter in Callahan's Saloon won't save you from their barbs.

      Beware their battlecry: "Yngvi is a louse!".

      1. Giles C Silver badge

        Re: I read "WorldCoin"

        The foxes do know a lot, but getting on the wrong side of Molly could be worse….

        Yes a Ben Aaronovitch reader here…

    2. Dan 55 Silver badge
      Thumb Up

      Re: I read "WorldCoin"

      Also works if you read the "Con" part in French.

  10. that one in the corner Silver badge

    The data is deleted off The Orb

    No, no - the data really *is* deleted off the Orb. They wouldn't lie to us.

    But there wasn't any statement that the data isn't first sent to their central servers, the mobile phones of their techs ("it was only in there for debugging, but then we were told to ship TODAY") and the public access git repository where the Head of Sales, who fancies himself to be a tech wizz but couldn't get the budget for a private account, was storing them "for training purposes".

    (Edit: then he realised that the comment had sat, unsent, since tea time, and when the page refreshed, saw jake had got in and expressed much the same opinion hours before. That is what one gets for enjoying the rock cakes and forgetting about one's ever so important online presence. Must up my game)

  11. Omnipresent Silver badge

    Eye Balls will be a serious commodity

    If you can swap your eyes for biometric passes of security, it's game on. People will absolutely do that ish, and pay for it with youtube, and tiky tokers.

  12. mostly average
    Gimp

    So...

    Do you have to get orb'd again if you get slashed in the face (by a werewolf, perhaps) and lose both eyes? Would they have to give the $16 back? Would it even make sense for someone without eyes to get orb'd? Do you think orb as a verb sounds like extraterrestrial anal probing? Would the orb still recognize/love me when I'm all old and wrinkly with untreated cataracts? Icon, because get orb'd, tech bros!

    1. ecofeco Silver badge
      Coat

      Re: So...

      Will you still read me, will you still sweep me, when I'm 64?

  13. BackToTheFuture

    I recognise those Orbs

    Those Orbs - surely they're oversized Connectix QuickCams from 1994? Perhaps kept in a dark basement all this time and force fed dodgy biometric data by their evil Logitech overlords after they bought the company,

    1. ecofeco Silver badge

      Re: I recognise those Orbs

      LOL, that desk-cam chassis IS still is use today.

      Glad to see it's not only me who thought, "huh, yeah, seen that plastic before."

  14. harrys Bronze badge

    litmus test

    Would be fascinating to see the numbers here, as it will give a true indication of what percentage of americans are ...

    1) desperately poor

    2) unbelievably stupid

    3) more sadly, a combination of the above

    my gut feeling ... very high :)

  15. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    I'll sit this one out

    All the details are on https://world.org/faqs and there is even a full engineering description of the Orbs under https://world.org/blog/engineering/opening-orb-look-inside-worldcoin-biometric-imaging-device

    I am afraid my gut feeling is that the whole World... shemozzle is one very slick, very ornate con.

    I would be rapidly cashing the $16 of WorldCon not that you would catch me within cooee of one of those Orbs or indeed anything in which Altman and co were involved.

    Wouldn't surprise me if the Orbs were using a laser to capture retinal images or using a very powerful finely focused laser to ablate very particular areas in the prefrontal lobes† in which case he is probably a willing stooge for some potato headed space aliens.

    † not in the US where a significant proportion are apparently born congenitally decorticate which also probably makes proving personhood a trial.

  16. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    What a croc. We made cheap AI to flood the internet with fake people, now you want us to pay you (subscription) to be less fooled by those imposters.

    Bad players will harness cheap AI to find a way to game it.

    1. ecofeco Silver badge

      Privatize the gains, socialize the losses.

      Same old same old.

  17. Ian Johnston Silver badge

    Yet another case where a blockchain contributes nothing of any value whatsoever. Why not just a database?

  18. Neil Barnes Silver badge
    Thumb Up

    gaming, online dating, and social media

    Fortunately, exactly none of the things I use online.

    1. ecofeco Silver badge

      Re: gaming, online dating, and social media

      They all have very good titles and they tell you how to be vital.

      (apologies to Supertramp)

  19. Doctor Syntax Silver badge

    One man, a visitor to the RSA Conference happening just down the road, said he'd heard about it at the show and "free money is free money."

    He may have known enough to give a genuine scan and completely false information to go with it - preferably Sam Alman as his name.

  20. TPark

    I know that in other countries where they've done this, people have complained that they never got paid. I wonder if that's ever been resolved.

  21. ecofeco Silver badge
    Facepalm

    $16 in fake money?

    No thanks, I prefer Flooze and Beanz.

    Jokes aside, $16? In fake money? What a goddamn insult.

  22. Christian Berger

    So since the proof of personhood is via an iris scan...

    ... it's probably fairly easy to build a device that can just fake lots of irises, gaining $16 a pop. Plus it's ethically acceptable since you are only defrauding crypto scamming billionaires.

  23. LBJsPNS Silver badge

    Look at the pictures of their storefront

    It reeks of impermanence. These "stores" won't be around for long. Just long enough to grab a lot of credulous idiots' data with the promise of all of $16, then fold up shop and disappear. Didn't anyone learn a damned thing from 23&Me?

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