TLDR
- Worldcoin (WLD) jumped 40% on Wednesday after Forbes reported that OpenAI is developing a biometric social media platform to eliminate bots
- The platform would verify users through Apple’s Face ID or the World Orb iris scanner, which is used by World Network
- A team of approximately 10 people at OpenAI has been working on the project since early 2025 to create a humans-only alternative to X
- ChatGPT may be integrated into the platform to help users create content like videos and photos
- No formal partnership between OpenAI and World Network has been confirmed, and WLD has fallen nearly 70% over the past 12 months
Worldcoin experienced a sharp price increase on Wednesday following news that OpenAI is working on a new social media platform. The WLD token climbed 40% to reach $0.63 before settling back to $0.54.
Forbes reported on Tuesday that OpenAI is developing a bot-free social media service that requires proof of personhood. Sources familiar with the matter told Forbes that the platform aims to create a humans-only environment.
The project is still in early development stages. A small team of around 10 people is building the platform to compete with X. According to The Verge, development began in early 2025.
🚨 OPENAI IS REPORTEDLY BUILDING A BIOMETRIC-VERIFIED SOCIAL NETWORK
USING SAM ALTMAN'S WORLDCOIN $WLD ORB FOR IRIS SCANNING AND HUMAN VERIFICATION
A DIRECT MOVE TO ELIMINATE BOTS OVERRUNNING PLATFORMS LIKE X 👀 pic.twitter.com/SqdB8Alnx5
— BlockNews (@blocknewsdotcom) January 28, 2026
The verification system would likely use biometric technology. Sources indicated that Apple’s Face ID or the World Orb eyeball scanner could verify users. The World Orb is part of World Network, the blockchain project co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
World Network raised $135 million in a token sale to a16z and Bain Capital Crypto last year. The project centers on World ID, a decentralized identity system that uses iris scanning technology.
Token Performance and Market Context
Despite Wednesday’s price jump, WLD has struggled over the past year. The token has dropped nearly 70% over the past 12 months during the broader crypto market downturn.
WORLDCOIN $WLD IS PUMPING HARD
World is now in 100+ countries with ~25M users & ~12M already verified via Orbs.
They’re also paying devs ~$300k per month in WLD to build human only apps.
Rumors say bigger social platforms may use Orb style ID soon. pic.twitter.com/gY8439tYcY
— Money Ape (@TheMoneyApe) January 28, 2026
The World Orb scans a person’s face and iris to confirm they are a unique human. This biometric device creates a World ID for genuine users in the ecosystem. The technology has faced criticism over personal data privacy concerns.
Platform Integration and Features
Details about the social media platform remain limited. OpenAI has not confirmed how the service would integrate with its existing products or with WLD.
ChatGPT may play a role in the platform. The AI tool could help users create content such as videos or photos.
Sam Altman has spoken out against bot activity on social media platforms before. In September, he described the current social media experience as feeling fake due to numerous bot-like posts and comments.
World Network has verified millions of people worldwide according to the company. However, the project has encountered regulatory challenges in several countries. Kenya temporarily suspended the service, and U.K. authorities have inquired about its data processing practices.
No formal partnership between OpenAI and World Network has been announced. The WLD price surge came solely from the Forbes report about OpenAI’s potential use of biometric verification technology.
