Sam Altman’s OpenAI is reportedly in talks to partner with Worldcoin, a cryptocurrency-based universal basic income and identity verification firm also co-founded by Altman. According to Bloomberg, discussions are underway for OpenAI to provide AI solutions and services to Worldcoin, with potential for deeper collaboration in the future.
This “future” partnership has drawn attention due to Altman’s leadership roles in both companies, which could invite heightened regulatory scrutiny, as noted by Tools for Humanity CEO Alex Blania in comments to Bloomberg. Worldcoin, a significant player in universal basic income and identity verification, currently boasts a large user base of around two million daily users.
Both OpenAI and Worldcoin have faced regulatory challenges previously. OpenAI recently navigated investigations related to its Microsoft partnership by EU authorities. Meanwhile, Worldcoin has encountered bans in multiple countries in early 2024, including Portugal, Kenya, and Spain.
Worldcoin is expanding its operations in 2024, highlighted by the launch of its blockchain and plans to increase its WLD token supply by 36 million over the next six months. The company’s unique identity verification process involves using iris-scanning hardware, rewarding users with WLD tokens for participating.