The rise of AI has made one thing clear.
It’s getting harder to tell who’s real and who’s a bot online.
To tackle this growing issue, Tools for Humanity, the company behind the World project (formerly known as Worldcoin), has just unveiled a new gadget: the Orb Mini.
And no, it’s not a regular phone. It’s a sleek, portable device built to answer one simple but important question: Are you human?
What Is the Orb Mini?
Think of the Orb Mini as a smartphone-shaped device except it won’t make calls or let you scroll through Instagram.
Instead, it uses biometric sensors to scan your eyeballs and verify that you’re a real person, not an AI or a bot.
The device was revealed during the company’s “At Last” event in San Francisco by Rich Heley, former Apple exec and now Chief Device Officer at Tools for Humanity.
According to insiders, Thomas Meyerhoff, another Apple veteran, worked on its design.
Image credit: The Verge
So yes, it looks like a phone but it’s really a “proof-of-human” scanner.
Orb Mini at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Device Type | Mobile verification scanner |
| Main Use | Eye-based identity confirmation |
| Resembles | A smartphone with dual front-facing sensors |
| Designed by | Former Apple designers |
| Company Behind It | Tools for Humanity (backed by Sam Altman) |
| Future Potential | Point-of-sale device or biometric sensor for others |
Why Does World Want to Scan Your Eyeballs?
With AI-generated content flooding the internet, from fake videos to ultra-realistic chatbots, we’re rapidly approaching a future where it’s nearly impossible to know if you’re interacting with a person or a machine.
The World project wants to change that by creating a “proof-of-personhood” system.
After scanning your eye with one of their devices (either the larger Orb or now the portable Orb Mini), you get a unique ID on the blockchain that says, “Yes, this is a verified human.”
That’s the foundation of World’s vision: a digital system where humans can prove they’re real and maybe even get rewarded for it.
Will It Replace Your Phone?
Not quite.
While the Orb Mini might look like a smartphone, it’s not meant to replace one, at least not yet. A company spokesperson shared that its core purpose is human verification, not communication or browsing.
That said, Alex Blania, World’s co-founder, hinted that it could eventually become a point-of-sale device or have its sensor tech licensed out to other manufacturers.
So, the potential for growth is definitely there.
Expanding Across the U.S.
World isn’t just dropping new gadgets. It’s also expanding its footprint in the U.S. Starting Thursday, the company is opening physical locations in:
- Austin
- Atlanta
- Los Angeles
- Miami
- Nashville
- San Francisco
These stores will let people walk in, scan their eyes using the Orb, and join the World network.
While the project already has a bigger presence in Latin America, Asia, and South America, this move signals a clear push into the U.S. market.
Current Stats from World
| Metric | Count |
|---|---|
| Total signups | 26 million |
| Verified humans | 12 million |
| Countries with presence | Multiple across 3 continents |
| U.S. locations launching | 6 cities |
What’s Next for Orb Mini and AI?
There’s still a big question mark around whether this project will intersect with Sam Altman’s other major venture – OpenAI.
Could Orb Mini integrate AI capabilities in the future? Or even connect with OpenAI’s rumored upcoming device?
So far, there’s no official word. But given Altman’s deep involvement in both companies, the possibility is intriguing.
Final Thoughts
In a world of bots, proof-of-human may become the new passport.
As AI continues to blur the lines between real and artificial, devices like the Orb Mini could become the go-to way to prove our humanity online.
Whether that future sounds empowering or a little eerie depends on how this tech evolves and how much trust it earns from the public.
One thing’s clear: Tools for Humanity isn’t just building gadgets. It’s building a whole new layer of digital identity.
