Sam Altman’s Other Startup: Building the ‘Super App’

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI and one of the most prominent figures in artificial intelligence, is working on a new venture that could reshape the way the world interacts with technology. This startup, called World, is developing an "everything app" that aims to revolutionize digital identification and integrate a wide array of services into a single platform. With Altman at the helm and his co-founder Alex Blania leading the charge, World could become a direct competitor to Elon Musk’s ambitious “everything app,” X.

At the heart of World’s vision is a unique biometric technology that could fundamentally alter how we verify our identities in both the digital and physical worlds. But to achieve this, Altman and his team face challenges ranging from regulatory hurdles to cultural resistance, particularly in regions where the idea of an "everything app" has yet to gain traction.

The Orb: A New Era of Identification

Imagine a world where physical wallets, passwords, and even credit cards are obsolete. Instead, you rely on a futuristic device called the Orb—a basketball-sized object that scans your iris to verify your identity. World’s Orb is designed to provide an "anonymous proof-of-human" system, ensuring that you are who you say you are, whether you’re completing a transaction, accessing a secure platform, or interacting online.

This approach addresses a growing concern in the age of artificial intelligence: the difficulty of distinguishing between humans and AI agents. As AI becomes more sophisticated and humanlike, the risk of AI impersonating people on social networks, payment platforms, and other critical systems increases. World’s technology offers a solution by using the unique patterns in human irises to verify identity in a way that AI cannot replicate.

According to Alex Blania, CEO of World, the need for such a system will only grow as AI technology advances. “AI agents will be so prevalent and so humanlike that we’ll need to repeatedly prove we’re real,” Blania said.

Building an Everything App

While the Orb is the backbone of World’s identity verification system, it is only one piece of a much larger vision. World is also developing an "everything app," a concept that has gained popularity in Asia through platforms like WeChat, Alipay, and Grab. These apps allow users to perform a wide range of tasks—from messaging and shopping to banking and booking rides—all within a single platform.

World’s app currently includes a mini app store, offering services such as cryptocurrency transactions, loans, and chat features with verified humans. The goal is to expand this ecosystem to include a vast array of services, creating a platform that can do everything from paying taxes to ordering dinner.

Altman and Blania envision their app reaching more than a billion users, making it a cornerstone of digital life. However, achieving this level of adoption in the West will be no small feat. Unlike countries in Asia where super apps thrive, Western consumers are accustomed to using multiple apps for different purposes. For World to succeed, it will need to convince users of the benefits of consolidating their digital activities into a single platform.

Competing with Elon Musk’s X

World’s ambitions put it on a collision course with Elon Musk’s X, the rebranded version of Twitter. Musk has described X as his vision for an everything app, integrating social media, payments, and more. While X is currently focused on its social networking features, Musk has hinted at plans to expand into the realm of payments and other services, making it a direct competitor to World.

Blania acknowledges the potential rivalry but believes it will take time for the two companies to truly compete. “I think it will take a while until we seriously collide,” Blania said. However, he anticipates that within 12 months, the two apps could begin vying for dominance in the same spaces.

The competition between World and X is also fueled by the personal rivalry between Altman and Musk. Both are influential figures in the tech world, with contrasting visions for the future of technology. Musk, known for his brash and ambitious style, has built a reputation for disrupting industries. Altman, on the other hand, is methodical and focused on long-term impact, as evidenced by his work at OpenAI.

Regulatory and Cultural Challenges

One of the biggest obstacles for World is regulatory approval, particularly in the United States. The company has faced scrutiny from governments around the world, with some countries suspending its operations or questioning its handling of personal data. For now, World does not allow Americans to hold its Worldcoin token or participate in its biometric identification system, citing concerns about regulatory compliance.

Venture capitalist Ben Horowitz, an investor in World, believes the regulatory environment in the U.S. is beginning to shift. On a recent podcast, Horowitz predicted that World would become "legal" in the U.S. within the year, thanks to loosening restrictions on crypto companies.

Even if World overcomes regulatory hurdles, it faces another challenge: cultural acceptance. In Asia, super apps are a natural extension of the region's tech ecosystems, where users are accustomed to all-in-one platforms. In the West, however, consumers have grown up with app stores that offer flexibility and choice. Convincing users to adopt a single app for all their needs will require a significant cultural shift.

The Role of Biometric Data

World’s reliance on biometric data adds another layer of complexity to its ambitions. While the Orb’s iris-scanning technology is groundbreaking, it raises questions about privacy and data security. Critics have expressed concerns about the potential misuse of biometric data, particularly if it falls into the wrong hands.

Blania and Altman have emphasized that World’s system is designed to protect user privacy. The Orb generates a unique cryptographic hash of each user’s iris, rather than storing the raw biometric data itself. This ensures that the data cannot be reverse-engineered or used for unauthorized purposes.

Despite these assurances, the use of biometric data remains a controversial topic. Governments and regulatory bodies will likely scrutinize World’s practices to ensure compliance with privacy laws. Winning the trust of users will be essential for the company’s success.

Altman’s Vision for the Future

For Sam Altman, World is more than just a business venture—it’s a way to address some of the most pressing challenges of the digital age. As CEO of OpenAI, Altman has been at the forefront of AI development, and he understands the potential risks and benefits of the technology better than most.

Altman’s involvement in World is not a side project; he is deeply engaged in the company’s strategy and decision-making. Blania describes Altman as a hands-on leader who is involved in "essentially every major decision" the company makes.

Altman’s vision for World extends beyond biometric identification and everything apps. He sees the platform as a way to create a more equitable digital economy, where users can interact securely and anonymously without sacrificing their privacy. By integrating cryptocurrency and other blockchain-based technologies, World aims to empower individuals while reducing the influence of centralized institutions.

The Road Ahead

World’s journey is just beginning, and its success is far from guaranteed. The company faces numerous challenges, including regulatory hurdles, cultural resistance, and competition from established players like X. However, with Sam Altman’s leadership and a clear vision for the future, World has the potential to redefine how we interact with technology.

The next 12 months will be critical for World as it expands its app ecosystem and begins to compete directly with X. If the company can overcome its challenges and gain traction in the West, it could set the stage for a new era of digital innovation.

At its core, World is about more than just technology; it’s about creating a system that empowers individuals in an increasingly automated and AI-driven world. Whether it succeeds or fails, World represents a bold experiment in what the future of technology could look like.