Tools for Humanity, the organization behind the World identity verification project, has introduced a mobile device called Orb Mini. The project, co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Alex Blania, aims to distinguish humans from AI agents on the internet. The new device was unveiled at the “At Last” event in San Francisco by Rich Heley, the company’s Chief Device Officer and a former Apple executive. The Orb Mini resembles a smartphone and features two large front-facing sensors designed to scan the user’s iris.
The Purpose and Technology Behind Orb Mini
The World project is based on the premise that it will soon become impossible to tell humans and AI apart online. To address this, the team is building digital “proof of personhood” tools. When a user’s eye is scanned—either by the original Orb or the new Orb Mini—the system generates a unique identifier on the blockchain to confirm that the user is human. The Orb Mini is a portable device, designed not for calls or apps, but solely for verification. The design was created with input from former Apple designer Thomas Meyerhoff.
Expansion Plans in the U.S.
Tools for Humanity has also announced the launch of its World Network in the United States. Verification locations will open in six cities: Austin, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, and San Francisco. These locations will allow users to verify themselves via iris scans using the company’s Orb devices. As of now, 26 million people have signed up for the project, with 12 million verified. While the project already has a strong presence in Latin America, South America, and Asia, this new phase focuses on expansion within the U.S.
Future Possibilities and Uncertainties
Although details about the Orb Mini are limited, the device appears to be part of a broader effort to scale World’s verification technology. In the future, it could potentially function as a mobile point-of-sale terminal or its sensor technology could be sold to hardware manufacturers. It remains unclear whether the Orb Mini will include AI features or if it will intersect with other ventures led by Sam Altman, including OpenAI.
