Will governments embrace Worldcoin – OpenAI’s initiative to distinguish between people and AI objects on the Internet?

Worldcoin uses metal balls to scan the iris of the human eye in exchange for digital identification 

IA “FACT” has already announced search engine SearchGPT based on artificial intelligence, created by OpenAI – a company engaged in research and implementation of AI for the benefit of humanity. But, apparently, every “magic pill” has side effects, and the use of such a “pill” turns into a search for a balance between the positive and side effects obtained from taking it. 

Currently, navigation in online reality is associated with such dangers as fraud, bots and imposters with artificial intelligence. That is, the introduction of AI in our reality inevitably adds new problems to humanity, therefore, simultaneously with the introduction of new AI technologies, an “antidote” should be sought for them. This is essentially what OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman is doing, promoting his Worldcoin initiative, seeking to save us from the world dominated by artificial intelligence, which he is building.

Sam Altman is an American entrepreneur, investor, programmer and blogger. He is considered one of the most influential personalities in the world of computer technology and an authoritative specialist in the field of artificial intelligence. In 2015, he co-founded OpenAI, also served as president of Y Combinator, a technology startup accelerator, and played a key role in the creation of ChatGPT.

According to WSJ analysts, Altman sees the problem that governments aren’t buying his plan, which involves trying to scan the eyeballs of every person on Earth and pay them with his own cryptocurrency.

If Altman’s OpenAI creates models that can ultimately outsmart humans, his Worldcoin initiative aims to address a key future risk: we won’t be able to tell humans from robots.

Worldcoin is a digital identity protocol designed to give every person on Earth a convenient way to verify that they are real people and not bots or AI algorithms. This initiative is designed to promote decentralized identity verification and ensure universal access to the global economy regardless of country or social status. 

Worldcoin can be used for identity verification, financial transactions and access to the global economy. This project is supported by a global community of developers, economists and technologists who believe in the right to personal privacy and equality of every person.

Technologies to enable Worldcoin functionality

To ensure the functionality of Worldcoin, developers use blockchain and cryptography. Also, this protocol uses Proof of Identity to confirm the identity of users. This ensures that each account belongs to a real person. Worldcoin has its own blockchain that allows transactions and storage of identity data without centralized control.

To protect data confidentiality, the protocol uses modern encryption methods. In addition, Worldcoin can use smart contracts to automate various operations and services. To ensure security, Worldcoin may use multi-factor authentication.

Controversy surrounding Sam Altman’s Worldcoin initiative

Therefore, Worldcoin is a cryptocurrency project aimed at solving the problem of distinguishing between people and objects of artificial intelligence on the Internet. The project uses metal balls to scan the iris of a human eye in exchange for a digital identification (World ID) and possibly cryptocurrency, depending on the country of residence of the identified personalities.

The idea is that if all people can definitively verify their identity, the number of fraudsters and imposters will decrease, leading to a more accurate digital reflection of society.

Worldcoin’s approach involves collecting biometric data (iris scans) to create unique identifiers using a cryptographic method called “zero-knowledge proofs”.

Zero-disclosure protocols are widely used in cryptocurrencies and blockchains to preserve data privacy, privacy in networks and protocols, privacy in distributed systems.

ZKP protocols help ensure privacy and anonymity of blockchain transactions. They allow you to confirm transactions without revealing the amount of the transfer and the address of the sender and recipient.

ZKPs are used to share confidential information without disclosing the data itself. For example, in electronic voting, proof of ownership, authentication and other areas.

Protocols help maintain confidentiality when exchanging data between different parties in networks and protocols. They are used in distributed computing and data processing where it is important to preserve user privacy.

Types of zero-knowledge proofs

Evidence with zero knowledge – ZKP is an exciting cryptographic technique that allows a proving party to prove the truth of a statement to a verifying party without revealing any additional information other than the truth of the statement. Here are some examples of zero-knowledge proofs that ensure data privacy without revealing the actual data. 

Evidence of tampering is used, for example, in electronic voting systems. Participants can confirm that their votes have been processed without revealing who they voted for.

Range proofs test whether a certain number belongs to a certain range. For example, in cryptocurrency transactions, you can confirm that the amount of the transfer is within a certain range without revealing the amount itself.

ZK-SNARK is an effective method that allows you to check actual data without interacting with the directory. It is used in blockchain and other applications. ZK-STARK is a method that overcomes some of the limitations of ZK-SNARK without requiring a trusted setup. It is suitable for large datasets.

Finally, PLONK is a state-of-the-art zero-knowledge proof protocol used for fact-checking without disclosing actual data. The main idea is that it allows you to prove the correctness of calculations without interacting with the reference. PLONK is used in a variety of areas, including blockchain, private financial transactions, and data privacy. For example, it is used in StarkNet, zkSync and Loopring projects. 

PLONK can prove any computational problem presented in the form of arithmetic operations on polynomials. It is efficient for large computational tasks such as verifying transactions on the blockchain. PLONK does not require a trusted setting, which makes it more transparent. It generates short proofs that simplify their verification.

Countries where Worldcoin no longer enjoys carte blanche

However, privacy experts have raised concerns about the collection and protection of this sensitive data. Kenya has become the first country to suspend Worldcoin and launch an interagency investigation into its operations. Spain also imposed a three-month ban on Worldcoin due to privacy risks associated with its unique approach to digital identity.

Recently, Elon Musk sued Sam Altman, accusing him of fraud and manipulation in changing the status of OpenAI from “non-commercial” to “commercial”, which subsequently affected the adoption of Worldcoin.

In summary, while Worldcoin aims to solve identity problems, its controversial approach to collecting biometric data has drawn scrutiny and regulatory action in various countries. Governments remain skeptical, highlighting the delicate balance between technological innovation and privacy protection. 

Tatyana Morarash