Tools for Humanity, the startup co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman behind the human verification initiative known as World, is set to unveil a new mobile device aimed at distinguishing humans from artificial intelligence agents. The forthcoming Orb Mini will be revealed at the company’s “At Last” event, scheduled this Wednesday in San Francisco.
Originally launched as Worldcoin and recently rebranded simply as World, the project was founded by Altman and Alex Blania. The central premise behind World is the belief that, in the near future, reliably differentiating actual humans from AI-generated agents online will become exceedingly difficult. To address this challenge, the company developed a verification platform anchored around specialized devices known as “Orbs,” designed to authenticate individuals via retinal scans. Users who scan their eye with an Orb or the more portable Orb Mini receive a unique blockchain-based identifier, thereby verifying their humanity.
Unlike the original Orb, which has a distinctly futuristic and spherical metallic design, the Orb Mini resembles a smartphone and has been intentionally built for greater mobility. According to sources familiar with its development, former Apple designer Thomas Meyerhoff contributed to the Orb Mini’s design. Although features like standard smartphone functionality—calls, messaging, and app access—aren’t the primary focus, the spokesperson noted that specifics about its ultimate purpose and capabilities have not been fully detailed yet.
In addition to launching the Orb Mini, Tools for Humanity also aims to introduce the World Network officially in the United States. Starting Thursday, physical retail stores will be established in major cities including Austin, Atlanta, Miami, Los Angeles, Nashville, and San Francisco, complementing stores the company has already opened internationally. Customers visiting these brick-and-mortar sites can have their irises scanned using the Orb technology to receive their unique human verification.
To date, the company states that approximately 26 million individuals globally have registered for the World project, with about 12 million completing the verification process. Presently, World enjoys higher adoption levels across Latin America, South America, and parts of Asia; however, this week’s announcements highlight an effort to significantly expand its footprint in the U.S. market.
While the precise details about potential additional functionalities or integrations remain vague, some observers speculate about potential synergies between Altman’s ventures, particularly between World and OpenAI. Still uncertain is whether the Orb Mini might incorporate AI-specific features or if it will somehow be linked to reported AI hardware initiatives currently being explored at OpenAI.
