Sam Altman's Worldcoin Eyeball-Scanning Crypto Project Launches (techcrunch.com) 36
Worldcoin, Sam Altman's audacious eyeball-scanning crypto startup, has started the global rollout of its services to help build a reliable solution for "distinguishing humans from AI online," enable "global democratic processes" and "drastically increase economic opportunity." From a report: The startup, which has raised about $250 million altogether and counts Andreessen Horowitz, Khosla Ventures and Reid Hoffman among its backers, said it's rolling out its identity technology as well as the token internationally. Individuals can download World App, the startup's protocol-compatible wallet software, and visit an Orb, the startup's helmet-shaped eyeball-scanning verification device, to receive their World ID.
I am sure it is different (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:I am sure it is different (Score:4, Interesting)
From all the other crypto scams out there.
The eyeball scanning part raises questions.
Getting to a stable key from a fuzzy input is a legit field of research and we know stuff and have established mathematical bounds. Google things like "fuzzy extractor" and "secure sketch" to find relevant papers. Wiki says this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]
The bounds on robust constructions are awful. Helper data needs to be so large that it leaks all the entropy, or the source needs to be so stable that you don't need much helper data. Your eye through an eye scanner is not a stable source. Masking schemes, while they look good intuitively, they don't offer much benefit when you compute the leakage numbers.
I wouldn't not base my crypto startup on eyeball scanning.
Re: (Score:3)
That's not what they're doing. The idea is to issue a token that corresponds to a person. You could do the same thing by just requiring that an applicant has to show up at an office, but the eyeball scanning helps make sure nobody gets multiple tokens.
I suppose it's possible they base the token on your scan, but that would be dumb. Much easier to just keep all the scans and check new applicants against them. As a side benefit, you have a nice database of retinal scans for use in the future.
Re:I am sure it is different (Score:5, Informative)
> the eyeball scanning helps make sure nobody gets multiple tokens.
Well if you read the post you replied to, the problem with the plan is an eye scan is inherently unstable. The more people you add to a system the more likely it is you will get false positives.
And the more strict you try to make the scan criteria, trying to eliminate mis-identification, the more likely it is that the same person will generate multiple tokens because contrary to popular belief your eyeballs do change over time.
This doesn't even touch upon the techno-dystopian nightmare that is the inevitable result of gathering everybody's biometric data and putting it in the hands of any central authority... it's just a bad idea from top to bottom. Par for the course with cryptobros.
=Smidge=
Re: (Score:3)
It's a bit of tangle of issues.
If you create more helper data (check bits) to stabilize the image to give a consistent unique token (large inter-hamming distance) then you leak too much entropy.
So you need to store that helper data and keep it secret.
But the user isn't going to carry the helper data around. They may as well carry a password around if that's the case.
So the equipment will have the helper data.
So the equipment needs to look at the eyeball and select the correct helper data based on the eyebal
Re: (Score:3)
As a cryptobro, I'd like to point out that this isn't a popular project in cryptoland.
Its a silicon valley enterprise, and the cap table shows it.
Re: I am sure it is different (Score:2)
huh maybe it will end up having at least SOME value after all then!
btw would anyone like to buy my proof of purchase of dorsey_first_tweet_screenshot.png? i could really use $20 right now, so maybe i can throw in a sucky-sucky? times are tough!
Re: (Score:2)
Thanks, I did read it. You might want to review. The post I replied to was talking about using scans to create keys. If you're going to do that you can't have false-anythings. If you're just trying to prevent most double dippers, a certain error rate is going to be acceptable and could be further refined with other things, like government ID.
Re: (Score:3)
The idea is to issue a token that corresponds to a person.
So does it work on cats and dogs? Asking for a friend.. man's best friend.
Coming soon to Ebay and Amazon: realistic glass eyes.
Re: (Score:2)
If you want to hold a cat still to get it's eye scanned at a crypto-scam clinic in order to get a worthless token, I'm sure it would work. Make sure you get someone to video it.
Re:I am sure it is different (Score:4, Insightful)
The guy strikes me as a bullshitter, not entirely unlike his flagship company's flagship product. I started thinking that after his Congress testimony, when he vaguely called for regulating AI because AIs like his company makes are so powerful and important.
Re: I am sure it is different (Score:2)
to be fair, google also politely asked the government to do something about chatGPT's unscripted success. both orgs very publicly cried to uncle sam like little welfare bitches for special favors and claimed that their competitor (but not they themselves!) could threaten the existence of the human race through their product.
Awful concept (Score:5, Insightful)
It's
Re: Awful concept (Score:4, Interesting)
Identity confirmation really matters, and blockchain is a decent way to do, a start. I was really disappointed to hear the emphasis on watermarking fake content in policy, which will be everywhere. Really the thing to do is have a layer that authenticates real communication. Mails, calls, video conferencing MUST be validated, in quantum proof ways. Fairly anonymous speech forums, where people can use pseudonyms issued by identity Auth service, would allow private speech without mosey neighbors and employers listening, and you could also have the truly anon Wild West sites like we grew up with, you just have to be cool with C-3PO and R2D2 posting there too.
Hope Altman takes better pitch to Biden, this needs to be done. People are getting ransom calls from fake voices of their families for instance, think of the subtle damage of a million posts that donâ(TM)t really come from people, or are linked to them by innuendo.
Re: (Score:3)
So you're saying if I get a ransom call claiming someone abducted my kids, I am supposed to ask them for a retina scan?
I don't see how this scene is going to solve anything besides benefit the yachting industry...
Re: (Score:2)
Wouldn't it be a whole lot easier to just train people not to fall for stupid scams?
As long as we're talking about impossible ideals, we might as well go with the cheapest one.
Impressive (Score:3)
That's a mighty tall pile of manure.
Generative AI eyeball technology (Score:5, Funny)
Re: (Score:3)
"Sam Altmans" (Score:2)
"...I'm an investor and I kinda like helped put the company together, but I'm not involved day to day at all..."
https://youtu.be/mC-0XqTAeMQ?t... [youtu.be]
Watch out (Score:4, Interesting)
This appears to be all about having control over your identity and your finances. Unlike passwords, you can't change your retinas at will. Hypothetical scenario: you do or say something the WorldCoin folks don't like (or a hacker gains access to your account and does something similar using your credentials). Your authorization to use and transfer your own money is revoked by the system. What recourse will there be?
Eyeballs or Credit Card? (Score:4, Insightful)
I'd rather the bad guys stole my credit card than my eyeballs.
Re: (Score:3)
Re: (Score:3)
In the same movie when the police chief explained to John Spartan that all transaction are now done by implanted chip in their hand (something that's immediately done to Spartan upon his thawing), and there's no way for Simon Phoenix to rob money as there are no cash. Spartan just casually mentioned that Phoenix could've just ripped someone's arm off, as he had done with the Cryo-Prison's warden's eye.
In many way, Demolition Man is WAY ahead of its time. It anticipated so much of current state of the worl
Wait (Score:3)
Re: Wait (Score:4, Insightful)
A penny for my eyeball (Score:2)
Not that a pennycan nuy me much these days anymore.
audacious eyeball-scamming crypto startup (Score:2)
Gonna stop you right there (Score:2)
so instead of a password string, we scan your eyeball and convert the scan into a sequence of bytes --
Stop.
but this will be different! We use proprietary technology to obfuscate the message sent --
Please stop.
One question (Score:2)
Individuals can download World App, the startup's protocol-compatible wallet software, and visit an Orb, the startup's helmet-shaped eyeball-scanning verification device, to receive their World ID.
What for?