Orbital Materials recently released "Orb," an AI model for advanced materials design that outperforms competing models from Google and Microsoft while operating 5x faster for large-scale simulations1. However, this technology shares its name with another prominent "Orb" - the biometric scanning device from World (formerly Worldcoin).

World's Orb has undergone significant evolution since its introduction. The latest generation features Nvidia hardware that makes it five times more powerful than previous versions, with 30% fewer parts and triple the processing capacity23. The redesigned device maintains its distinctive spherical shape-intentionally tilted at 23.5 degrees to mirror Earth's axis-which designer Thomas Meyerhoffer (a former Apple designer) chose for its universal familiarity across cultures4. Future deployment plans include self-service kiosks and an on-demand service where users can request an Orb delivery similar to food delivery apps25. To address privacy concerns, the new Orb includes removable SD cards for public code auditing and open-source software components2.

Privacy concerns surrounding World's iris-scanning technology have sparked regulatory actions across multiple countries. German and Spanish data protection authorities have ordered the company to delete collected biometric data for failing to meet European privacy standards12. Critics warn that iris scans create permanent privacy risks since biometric identifiers are immutable-once compromised, they cannot be changed like passwords34. The technology raises particular concerns about informed consent, data storage practices, and potential surveillance implications, especially when targeting vulnerable populations35.

• Iris scanning presents unique risks including potential reverse engineering of biometric templates6, vulnerability to spoofing (as demonstrated when hackers bypassed Samsung's iris authentication using printed photos with contact lenses)7, and the creation of centralized databases that could become targets for cyberattacks.

• Despite these concerns, Altman and Blania maintain that World's system is anonymous and privacy-preserving, with Altman expressing confusion about public distrust, stating: "I am not sure where the perception comes from... I see nothing but extreme focus from boards and CEOs on this"8. The company has recently added features allowing users to permanently delete their iris codes, potentially to address GDPR compliance issues9.

The World ID verification system uses biometric technology to establish unique digital identities through iris scanning. When users register, they interact with a specialized device called the Orb, which captures their iris pattern-a biological feature as distinctive as fingerprints that remains consistent over time and differs even between identical twins.12 This scan generates a unique iris code that serves as proof of personhood without revealing personal information.34

The verification process employs advanced security measures to protect user privacy. After scanning, the original iris image is immediately deleted, and the resulting code is cryptographically processed and split into fragments.5 These fragments are stored anonymously using Secure Multi-Party Computation technology and zero-knowledge proofs, allowing users to verify their humanity online without sharing sensitive data.65 This system addresses growing concerns about distinguishing humans from AI in digital spaces, with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman noting that "as AI becomes more integrated into our lives, having a trusted human verification layer is critical."7