World, the startup co-founded by Sam Altman and originally known as Worldcoin, has dropped the “coin” from its name. The company, which focuses on “proof of personhood” through iris scanning, made this announcement at a live event in San Francisco, where it also unveiled a new version of its iris-scanning device called the “Orb” and other tools.
Alex Blania, the co-founder and CEO, explained that the original name no longer fits, suggesting a shift in the startup's focus beyond its initial cryptocurrency goals. Although eye-scanning was initially seen as a way to access Worldcoins, the founders clarified that this never became a reality.
Blania also shared that Sam Altman, who is also the CEO of OpenAI, dedicates significant time to World, although both ventures have independent missions. He hinted at the possibility of integrating World’s cryptocurrency with ChatGPT in the future, stating, “He’s a co-founder and has been involved from the start. We communicate a few times a week, and he participates in all key decisions.”
