Onstage, Sam Altman and co-founder Alex Blania announced that the cryptocurrency Worldcoin is coming to the US for the first time, along with a bevy of orbs. The idea is straight out of science fiction. It may be too far-fetched to work, but given Altman’s involvement, it’s something worth paying attention to.

Sam Altman’s controversial blockchain project, World, is launching in the U.S. – and said it intends to roll out 7,500 eye-scanning “orbs” in cities across the country by the end of the year. By signing up,

Altman's World venture wants to convince people to scan their eyeballs to prove they're human amidst a proliferation of AIs and bots.