In a world rapidly shaped by artificial intelligence, distinguishing between humans and AI agents is becoming increasingly complex. Tools for Humanity, a startup co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and German physicist Alex Blania, is tackling this challenge head-on with the launch of its newest product: the Orb Mini. Revealed during the company’s recent “At Last” event in San Francisco, the Orb Mini is a portable, eye-scanning device designed to bring secure identity verification into the hands of everyday users.
Orb Mini: A Pocket-Sized Portal to Digital Proof of Personhood
The Orb Mini, visually similar to a smartphone, features two prominent front-facing sensors that scan the user’s iris to generate a unique, blockchain-stored identity. It is the latest innovation from Tools for Humanity’s broader initiative, World (formerly Worldcoin), which aims to create digital “proof of human” credentials to help users assert their authenticity in digital environments increasingly influenced by AI.
With generative AI tools like ChatGPT gaining prominence, the line between human and machine interaction is increasingly blurred. Altman, who is also CEO of OpenAI, has long expressed concerns about the implications of widespread AI fakery. The Orb Mini responds to this threat by enabling scalable, biometric identity verification.
Expanding Access Through Portability and Storefronts
The Orb Mini is a more accessible version of the original Orb device, designed for ease of use and scalability. Unlike the original, bulky orb, the Mini is handheld and designed for mobility. The company plans to make it available at multiple touchpoints including dedicated World Network stores and Razer retail outlets. Six new stores will launch across the United States—in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Austin, Miami, and Nashville—to offer free iris scanning and World ID enrollment.
As of early 2025, Tools for Humanity claims over 26 million sign-ups and 12 million verified users globally, with a growing footprint in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. With the U.S. launch, the company hopes to broaden its reach and refine its model of decentralized identity.
Bridging Crypto and Traditional Finance
Tools for Humanity has also announced plans for a World-branded Visa debit card designed to bridge the gap between blockchain-based currencies and fiat systems. This card will allow users to spend their World currency anywhere Visa is accepted and may offer rewards tied to AI services like ChatGPT Plus.
In parallel, the World app is being updated to support a broader range of financial transactions, including payments via Stripe, support for stablecoins, and access to mini apps that make use of verified identities for things like gaming and micro-betting.
Commercial and Social Use Cases
The technology isn’t stopping at verification. Future applications of the Orb Mini may include point-of-sale integrations and licensing of the device’s sensors to manufacturers. In partnership with Match Group, World is piloting identity verification on Tinder in Japan to reduce dating app scams. These use cases show how Orb Mini could extend beyond finance into broader social verification.
Privacy, Regulation, and Skepticism
Despite its ambitious goals, the project has faced intense scrutiny from privacy advocates and regulators. Concerns around biometric data collection have led countries like Brazil, Hong Kong, Kenya, and Portugal to ban or pause World services. Tools for Humanity asserts that once a user’s identity is verified, personal data is wiped from the Orb device, though skepticism remains.
Moreover, the platform is not yet available in New York due to undisclosed regulatory concerns. This raises further questions about how scalable and globally compliant the project can be.
Looking Ahead: Building a Global Identity Infrastructure
With an estimated 7,500 Orb devices expected to be in circulation across the U.S. by year-end, Tools for Humanity is pushing toward mass adoption. Its vision is clear: to create a decentralized, privacy-respecting identity infrastructure that can thrive in an AI-first world.
The Orb Mini is just one step on that journey—a step designed to make human verification more accessible, portable, and trusted. Whether this innovation will overcome regulatory hurdles and public skepticism remains to be seen. But with backing from investors like Andreessen Horowitz, Khosla Ventures, and Coinbase, and with Altman’s personal credibility in the AI space, Tools for Humanity is positioning itself at the forefront of digital identity innovation.
