World’s Iris-Scanning Tech Misunderstood, Data Never Leaves Orb, Advisor Says
Sam Altman’s blockchain project World continues to face scrutiny over its iris-scanning technology, but Foundation Advisor Liam Horne insists critics misunderstand the system. "The data literally never leaves the orb," Horne emphasized during a Consensus 2025 panel, countering claims about data ownership.
The network’s chrome orbs create privacy-preserving digital identities through iris scans, part of a "proof-of-personhood" system. Biometric data converts instantly into encrypted addresses within the device itself—a design choice meant to address privacy concerns that have dogged the project since its inception.