Biometrics Meets Blockchain
Sam Altman’s initiative, Tools for Humanity, has officially launched its biometric Orb devices throughout the United Kingdom. These spherical eye-scanning devices are designed to verify human identity for the Worldcoin project.
What is the Orb?
The Orb is a silver, futuristic device that scans a person’s iris to generate a unique personal code, ensuring that one person equals one identity — a critical aspect of the Worldcoin cryptocurrency and universal basic income experiments.
Why the UK?
The UK was selected as a key region due to its strong fintech environment and regulatory openness to identity innovation. Deployment began in major cities including London, Manchester, and Birmingham.
Privacy Concerns
Although the company insists that iris data is not stored and converted into hashes, critics have voiced concerns over surveillance risks, data centralization, and ethical use of biometrics at scale.
Potential Impact
With more than 2.2 million people already verified globally, the expansion into the UK marks a strategic step toward building a global, decentralized identity system that could redefine how digital economies operate.
Strategic Timing
The rollout aligns with rising debates about identity fraud, AI-generated deepfakes, and digital voting infrastructure — all of which demand trusted ID systems.
Conclusion
Orb devices in the UK may signal the beginning of a broader biometric revolution, with Worldcoin aiming to bridge the gap between humans and decentralized financial infrastructure.