World Unveils ‘Super App’ with Encrypted Chat and Crypto Payment Features
World, the biometric ID verification initiative co-founded by Sam Altman, has introduced the latest iteration of its application, now enhanced with encrypted messaging and expanded cryptocurrency transaction capabilities.
Established by Tools for Humanity in 2019, World launched its initial app in 2023. In an era increasingly challenged by AI-generated digital impersonations, the company aims to provide proof of human tools to distinguish genuine users from automated entities.
At a recent event in San Francisco, Altman, alongside co-founder and CEO Alex Blania, presented the new super app. Altman highlighted the project’s foundation in web3 principles, emphasizing the challenge of identifying unique individuals while preserving privacy.
A standout feature of the update is World Chat, an end-to-end encrypted messaging platform. Comparable to privacy-centric apps like Signal, World Chat employs color-coded speech bubbles to indicate whether a conversation partner has been verified through World’s system. This design encourages user verification, ensuring authentic interactions. The beta version of Chat was initially released in March.
Additionally, the app’s digital payment system has been expanded, allowing users to send and receive cryptocurrency seamlessly. Beyond its existing digital wallet functionality, the updated app enables users to receive paychecks directly and make bank deposits, both convertible into crypto. Notably, these features are accessible without undergoing World’s authentication process.
Tiago Sada, World’s chief product officer, noted that the inclusion of chat was driven by user feedback desiring a more interactive experience. He emphasized the effort to create a messenger combining the feature richness of platforms like WhatsApp or Telegram with the security standards akin to Signal.
World’s unique authentication involves scanning users’ irises with a device called the Orb, generating a distinct encrypted digital code. This verified World ID grants access to the app’s suite of services.
The introduction of social-centric features aims to boost app adoption. While Altman envisions scanning a billion individuals, current figures indicate fewer than 20 million have been scanned.
To streamline the verification process, the company introduced Orb Minis in April—hand-held devices allowing users to scan their irises from home. Blania has expressed intentions to evolve these devices into mobile point-of-sale systems or integrate the ID sensor technology into other devices, potentially broadening user adoption.
