It seems that Wordcoin, with the support of Sam Altman, is facing potential closure.
In Brief
Launched in 2020, Wordcoin was conceived with the idea of offering free funds to users, who would need to scan their irises on a specialized device to generate a cryptographic key for securing all blockchain transactions.
Although Wordcoin has attracted over a million registrants from various nations, there remains a significant level of skepticism regarding cryptocurrency among influential decision-makers.
In one of our earlier posts As previously mentioned, we are here to explore Altman’s independent endeavors, starting with Wordcoin, which may not seem related to OpenAI at first glance.

The project began in 2020 with a straightforward concept: to test people's reactions to receiving free money. However, true to Altman's innovative style, he introduced an intriguing twist—users had to consent to scanning their irises on a specialized device in exchange for a unique password. This device would hash the iris image and create a cryptographic key, ensuring that every blockchain transaction was validated through this hash. The uniqueness of an iris makes it incredibly secure against theft; attempting to illegally access it would result in irreversible damage. Thus, the infrastructure held the promise of safe global distribution of funds. basic income While the vision was ambitious, unforeseen challenges arose.
First, the project was criticized Edward Snowden raised critical questions about whether individuals would genuinely be willing to share their iris scans with a company. Unlike a traditional password, our eyes are irreplaceable; we only have one pair for a lifetime. If something were to go awry, it could lead to dire consequences.
Altman responded In response to Snowden's concerns, Altman seemed taken aback, expressing something along the lines of, 'I didn't realize people would have such a strong reaction, that's interesting.' His perspective on personal data privacy is certainly intriguing.
After a period of silence following controversy, the project emerged again with an initiative known as World ID. But what exactly does it entail?
The platform provides Essentially, it operates as an OATH protocol for accessing various websites, mobile applications, or crypto wallets. Similar to the 'login with Google' option, users can simply click 'login with World ID' to gain access.
To establish this protocol account, one would need to visit a designated scanning center to capture their iris scan. Subsequently, this creates a private key stored locally on the user's device, in addition to a public key that gets documented on the blockchain, allowing everyone to see if a user has undertaken specific actions, such as transferring funds, and verifying their authority to do so. World App Moreover, the clever Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP) ensures that behaviors can be linked to a single account while maintaining user anonymity; the system will only register that 'someone' performed 'something,' without exposing their identity.
The developers have shared open-source designs for their retinal scanning devices, while the actual firmware code remains undisclosed, primarily for manufacturers interested in producing such devices. Zero-Knowledge Proof They also mentioned their new product launch alongside a post referencing GPT-4, hinting that AI will soon blur the lines between human-generated comments and those crafted by bots. Wordcoin aims to be the solution to this critical issue.
Unusually, the company even posted Currently, however, the project is navigating through uncertain waters. The latest news has considerably shaken public trust in cryptocurrencies, making it increasingly challenging to persuade individuals to submit their biometric data to a crypto company, regardless of the advanced algorithms in place.
Interestingly, Wordcoin started the post Consider this: Initially, Wordcoin's team anticipated having a staggering one billion active users by 2023, yet the reality is that their registration numbers barely scrape the surface.
They have amassed participants from various locations such as Argentina, Chile, India, Kenya, Portugal, Spain, and Uganda.
OpenAI is embarking on the development of a video AI model. stated According to OpenAI's CEO, the education system needs to evolve with the introduction of ChatGPT instead of imposing bans. one million sign-ups Tests conducted on GPT-4 suggest that it might already possess some degree of consciousness.
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