Worldcoin event in San Francisco: Exclusive insight – Have you already georged?

Worldcoin event in San Francisco – right on site: In an industrial building near the Bay Area, Worldcoin hosted a large event with influencers, media and the crypto community. Visitors were able to “orb” live, test new hardware and get an update on global strategy from Sam Altman (the man behind Open AI & ChatGPT) and co-founder Alex Blania. The focus: the official US launch, new partnerships – and the vision of a global identity infrastructure. The Verge was also there and reports on the mood, technology and political significance.

The US launch is official – despite open regulation

The biggest moment of the event: the announcement of the official launch in the US. Despite the still uncertain regulatory situation, Worldcoin feels encouraged by political signals – for example from advisors close to Trump. This is the first time that Worldcoin has entered the home market of major tech companies. Fortune emphasizes how important the launch is for global scaling.

Video: This was the event

Worldcoin, now in the USA.

7,000 new orbs planned in US cities

With the launch, Worldcoin announced that it would be placing more than 7,000 new orbs in the USA – from San Francisco to Atlanta. In specially designed “World Spaces” reminiscent of Apple Stores, users will be able to have their orbs scanned in future. The aim is to lower the inhibition threshold for “orbing” and make the technology accessible. CoinDesk provides an insight into the new store concept.

Partnership with Visa – token becomes suitable for everyday use

Another highlight: the integration of Worldcoin into the Visa payment network. Users can pay worldwide with a Visa debit card via the World app – the system automatically switches to fiat at the checkout. This gives the token real use in everyday life – far beyond speculation. Decrypt calls it a strategic milestone.

New device: The “Orb Mini”

The new, portable “Orb Mini”, which looks like a smartphone, was also presented. It is designed to enable iris scanning anywhere – flexible, mobile and directly by trained people in the field. Critics speak of “black mirror vibes”, but Worldcoin is pursuing the goal of making the technology suitable for the masses. TechCrunch sheds light on the new hardware and its social context.

Sam Altman as the driving force

Sam Altman is more than just a co-founder – his personality attracts investors, tech pioneers and the media alike. Without Altman, according to many on site, the project would hardly have this reach. The Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, was also present at the keynote – a clear sign of the growing political interest. Fast Company describes Altman as the face behind the project.

• Event with 45-minute keynote speech by Altman & Blania
• US launch officially announced
• 7,000+ orbs in US retail spaces
• Visa cooperation for real use
• New device: Orb Mini presented

PS: Fun Fact Worldcoin x Sphere

It reminds me so much of the Orb! The Sphere in Las Vegas.

Sam Altman, Worldcoin & Co. more on the topic

Is Worldcoin part of OpenAI?

No, Worldcoin is not part of OpenAI. It is an independent project of the company Tools for Humanity. However, there is a close personal connection: Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, is also the co-founder and chairman of Worldcoin. The two companies operate independently of each other, but share the same vision of technological innovation. Learn more here:

• Worldcoin
• Orb (iris scanner)
• Sam Altman

Also interesting, as it is also by visionary Sam Altman:

• OpenAI
• ChatGPT