The biometric identity verification project World (formerly known as Worldcoin), co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, officially released a new version of the World App on Thursday. This application, which the development team has defined as a 'super app', now integrates several major features, including highly private encrypted chat capabilities and cryptocurrency payment services similar to Venmo.
World was founded by the startup Tools for Humanity in 2019 and launched the App for the first time in 2023. In today's world, filled with AI-generated content, the company aims to create a digital 'human identification' tool to help effectively distinguish 'real humans' from 'robots'.
On Thursday, at a small press conference at World headquarters in San Francisco, Sam Altman briefly appeared with World co-founder and CEO Alex Blania. During his speech, Sam Altman revealed that the concept of World originated from conversations between him and Alex Blania about establishing a new economic model, which is the vision that World attempts to achieve through its verification network based on Web3 principles. He said:
Identifying unique individuals while ensuring privacy protection is indeed a challenging task.
World Chat: Identifying 'real people' by color bubbles
The newly launched communication feature 'World Chat' was created to address the aforementioned challenges, employing 'end-to-end encryption' technology to protect conversation security, with encryption levels comparable to the privacy-renowned Signal messaging software.
Source: World
More cleverly, the system will use different colors of chat bubbles to indicate whether the conversation partner has passed 'World ID verification'. This design aims to provide verification incentives, empowering users with the right to 'know' and confirm whether their chat partner is a 'real person'. The World Chat feature was initially launched in a beta test version in March of this year.
Furthermore, users can send and receive payments in personal chat rooms, split bills in group chats, and track who has paid; they can also package transfers as birthday gifts or holiday blessings, complete with custom animations. All transfers are free of fees, borderless, and completed instantly.
With this update, Mini Apps officially join 'World Chat'. Third-party prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket, as well as applications like games and savings tools, can all operate directly within the chatbox, allowing users to interact, trade, or play without leaving the chat room.
Payment Upgrade: Virtual accounts directly connected to the cryptocurrency world
Another highlight of the press conference is the significantly expanded digital payment system.
Although World App has had digital wallet capabilities in the past, the new version will further support cryptocurrency transfers, as well as receiving payments and salaries via virtual bank accounts. Users can also directly deposit fiat currency into the App and convert it to cryptocurrency. Notably, users do not need to go through World’s iris identity verification to use the above payment features.
Source: World
In addition, the newly launched 'Earn' feature of World App offers users highly attractive opportunities for digital asset earnings. Currently, users who have passed World ID verification can obtain remarkable high annual yields: over 15% APY on the first $1,000 of USDC; 18% APY on the first 1,000 WLD tokens.
Tiago Sada, Director of Products at World, stated that the addition of chat functionality is a response to community needs, creating a more interactive experience. He described it as a communication tool rich in features comparable to WhatsApp or Telegram, yet also matching Signal in terms of security.
This article is reprinted with permission from: (Blockke)
Original title: (Sam Altman strikes again! World App major upgrade: Integration of cryptocurrency payments and encrypted chat features)
Original author: Block Girl MEL
'The world coin of OpenAI CEO: World App has upgraded! Integration of cryptocurrency payments and encrypted chat features' was first published in 'Crypto City'
