Akarsh Sanghi, the head of Product and Engineering at Worldcoin, has shared the project's future aims and ambitions.
After the launch of Worldcoin on Monday, significant excitement erupted across cryptocurrency media outlets and social networks, leading to discussions surrounding the project's goals. Some players in the ecosystem remarked that speculate Sam Altman, the co-founder of Worldcoin and also recognized as the CEO of OpenAI, seems to be in a rivalry with Elon Musk in efforts to establish a global financial framework.
The introduction of Worldcoin was met with its share of controversies. Concerns arose Even before its debut, concerns were raised about the privacy aspects linked to the project's iris-scanning device known as the Orb. Numerous reports suggested that it kept hashed iris data in a centralized repository, prompting skepticism regarding its data collection methods. In a blog post shortly after the launch, Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, discussed potential risks associated with Worldcoin’s system of biometric proof of personhood.
Given these circumstances, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) in the United Kingdom has initiated an investigation into Worldcoin. In response, the project emphasized its adherence to all pertinent laws and regulations concerning the collection and transmission of biometric data, including the stringent European General Data Protection Regulation. announced its intent To acquire deeper knowledge about the workings and objectives surrounding Worldcoin’s platform, Sergei Medvedev, a co-founder at Metaverse Post, interviewed Akarsh Sanghi during the prestigious WebX conference held in Tokyo. There, Akarsh provided insightful commentary on the motivations behind Worldcoin’s system and its overarching mission.
So, what exactly is Worldcoin? Sometimes it’s unsettling to watch individuals lining up for iris scans, while others kneel for the same process. Could you elaborate on the concept in simple terms? Why is the scanning of individuals necessary?
It all began with a bit of background. Sam [Altman], the co-founder and chairman of Tools for Humanity, which backs Worldcoin's software and engineering developments, originally conceived the idea. He posed a notion that as AI technologies foster greater abundance in society and become more widespread in performing tasks, it would be essential to distinguish between AI and humans. In addition, a method would be required to redistribute the wealth generated from the deployment of these models in everyday life, both in business and social contexts. This served as the catalyst for the concept.
As Alex [Blania] and several team members joined forces, they conducted extensive research on how to translate this concept into a practical application. The primary challenge they set out to conquer was finding a reliable way to identify individuals. They had to determine the best approach that preserves privacy while ensuring unique human identity recognition on a global, unbiased, and scalable level. Sam co-founded OpenAI Their research and development efforts led them to the conclusion that biometrics could likely be the answer. Within biometrics, they considered various options such as facial recognition, fingerprints, or iris scanning. The focus was on capturing sufficient unique data that could effectively differentiate one person from another, while avoiding the risks associated with false positives or negatives that could compromise system integrity.
After extensive R&D, the consensus was clear: a biometric approach was necessary, with iris scanning being the optimal choice. This realization prompted the team to create their own iris scanner hardware, as off-the-shelf solutions simply wouldn’t suffice. Accepting that they would need to venture into hardware development was daunting, given the complexities involved.
From there, the journey to create the Orb began, leading to the launch of its initial version and the development of an economic models for rolling it out globally—enabling the signup of users through iris scans, issuance of World ID, and distribution of Worldcoin tokens wherever permissible. Fast forward to today, the token has been launched, and approximately 2 million users have registered during our beta phase.
What an incredible journey! Kudos to you all!
Although much progress has been made, it’s clear that the road ahead for Worldcoin is long and challenging. Many people are unaware that nearly four years have passed since we initially introduced our token. We are essentially starting anew. Significant undertakings like this require substantial time and dedication. Developing something with such lofty goals demands rigorous R&D, advanced engineering, and vast operational efforts, especially considering the physical hardware aspect. Engaging different countries and managing user interactions throughout this process proves to be incredibly challenging.
Could you simplify the technology used by the Orb for scanning? Just break it down for the layman, if you would.
You can envision the Worldcoin system as being composed of three distinct components:
First up is the World ID, a unique identity given to users once they verify themselves through the Orb by completing the scanning procedure.
Next is the World App, which serves as our main Ethereum wallet. This non-custodial wallet allows users to claim their Worldcoin tokens and obtain their ID. In the future, other wallets will also be developed, functioning seamlessly alongside the protocol, but we wanted to launch a standout product, hence this app's creation.
- Lastly, we have the Worldcoin token itself.
- So, there you have it: the trifecta of World ID, World App, and the Worldcoin token. The World ID is essentially awarded to users once they undergo verification via the Orb. The process works like this: a user approaches the Orb, which captures a high-resolution image of their iris. The device is powered by an NVIDIA computer and utilizes seven neural networks focusing on a process known as iris segmentation. This process extracts the iris from the image to create what's called an iris code. This code is then matched against previously-generated codes, ultimately determining whether the user is accepted or rejected.
- We just shared our own 'man in the mirror' experience at
as we attempted to self-verify through WorldID from
It seems that becoming a part of humanity is simpler than we anticipated! Enjoy the video and have a good laugh 😂 @WebX_Asia @medveps If the generated code is unique, a success notification is provided, leading to the user receiving their Worldcoin tokens along with their World ID. Conversely, if an individual tries to claim additional tokens or a second ID, the system will automatically deny access since they've already registered. Essentially, it operates on a straightforward yes or no basis. The entire design was meticulously crafted to uphold privacy, ensuring no data is stored. The approach maintains a self-contained nature. This privacy aspect is quite noteworthy, and we will delve deeper into that shortly. Ultimately, the whole structure was thoughtfully designed to facilitate the scalability of this project. @WorldCoin .
— Metaverse Post Ⓜ️ (@mpost_io) July 25, 2023
Can you clarify the advantages of scanning myself? What can I do with that? What potential awaits, perhaps now or in the future? pic.twitter.com/LW9GkGLN32
One reference point worth mentioning—since the concept behind Worldcoin is significantly influenced by it—is India's national ID initiative called Aadhaar. Your audience may or may not be aware of it, but what India has achieved with Aadhaar is truly remarkable.
Launched in the late 2000s, Aadhaar was developed as a governmental social security project for India. The primary goal was to address the lack of a universal ID system in such a vast nation, where individuals bore a mix of identification forms such as passports and driver's licenses, which varied by socioeconomic status. Not everyone possessed all forms of identification, making it difficult to ascertain who had what. Consequently, the Aadhaar system was established, utilizing biometric data including iris, facial recognition, and fingerprints to onboard over 1.2 billion citizens and assign them IDs. Every individual received a unique Aadhaar number, ensuring that each person in India is identifiable through this means.
Akarsh Sanghi, who leads Product & Engineering at Worldcoin, shares insights into the long-term aspirations and goals of the project in an interview with Metaverse Post.
The recent unveiling of Worldcoin on Monday created a stir across various cryptocurrency news platforms and social media channels, igniting a flurry of conversations about what this initiative aims to achieve.
In an interview with Metaverse Post, Akarsh Sanghi, the Head of Product & Engineering at Worldcoin, discusses the project’s vision and future objectives.
Akarsh Sanghi, in charge of Product & Engineering at Worldcoin, elaborates on the project’s long-term ambitions and goals.
The Federal Trade Commission was unsuccessful in its recent attempt to prevent the merger between Microsoft and Activision.
To enhance your experience in your native language, we occasionally utilize an auto-translation tool. However, please be aware that these translations may not always be precise, so it’s advisable to read with caution.
The recent launch of Worldcoin on Monday has created a lot of excitement within the crypto community and social media platforms, leading to extensive discussions about the project’s aims and intentions. Many people have chimed in with their thoughts.
There are speculations that Sam Altman, who is one of the co-founders of Worldcoin and is famously recognized as the CEO of OpenAI, might be looking to rival Elon Musk in establishing a worldwide financial infrastructure.
Worldcoin’s initiation has not come without its share of controversies.
Before the official launch, there were concerns surrounding privacy related to the project’s device known as the Orb, which conducts iris scans. Reports indicated that this device saved hashed versions of the scans in a centralized storage system, raising alarms about how data is gathered and managed. Shortly following the launch,
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin raised concerns about potential misuse related to Worldcoin’s biometric verification system outlined in a post.
In response to these events, the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has taken steps to investigate Worldcoin. The project’s representatives have reaffirmed their commitment to abide by all applicable laws concerning biometric data collection and transfer, including compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation in Europe.
To explore the inner workings and the objectives behind Worldcoin, Sergei Medvedev, co-founder of Metaverse Post, engaged in a conversation with Akarsh Sanghi at the notable WebX conference in Tokyo. During this discussion, Akarsh elaborated on the inspiration driving Worldcoin’s vision and its overarching goals.
What exactly is Worldcoin? It’s somewhat unsettling at times to see individuals lined up to have their faces scanned, while others kneel down for the same procedure. Can you explain the concept as simply as possible, and share the reasoning behind the need for these scans?
It’s not a thing in Western Europe.
There’s a bit of backstory here. The concept was first introduced by Sam [Altman], the co-founder and chairman of Tools for Humanity, the organization supporting Worldcoin’s initiatives in software development and engineering. This idea emerged from a belief that as AI models start to create abundance in society—and as they become more adept at performing tasks—there needs to be a method to distinguish between the output of these AI systems and that of humans. In addition, there needs to be a framework that allows for wealth redistribution generated when these models are used in real-world scenarios and businesses. That was the seed from which the idea sprouted.
When Alex [Blania] and other team members joined, they conducted thorough research into how this vision could be realized. The initial challenge was to figure out how to accurately identify individuals. They needed to establish a secure, unbiased system for uniquely recognizing humans worldwide—one that could scale effectively and ensure privacy.
After considerable research and development, the consensus was that biometrics could be the most viable solution. Within biometrics, options like face recognition, fingerprints, or iris scans existed. The key takeaway was to generate enough unique data points to differentiate individuals meaningfully. Failing to do so could lead to a high rate of false positives or negatives, causing either everyone to be wrongly accepted or rejected, which is a situation to be avoided.
The team’s extensive R&D efforts concluded that utilizing biometrics was essential, ultimately leading them to choose iris recognition. This realization prompted them to create their own iris-scanning hardware, as existing devices did not meet their requirements. Accepting that they had to venture into hardware production was a tough pill to swallow, considering the complexities involved. Airdrops Calendar .
Disclaimer
In line with the Trust Project guidelines Thus began a lengthy journey of developing the Orb, launching its initial iteration, and establishing an economic model to facilitate users' registration, iris scans, and issuing World IDs along with Worldcoin tokens as permitted. Fast forward to today, the token has launched, and they’ve successfully onboarded two million users during their beta phase.