Samuel Altman's startup plans to link AI agents' behavior with reading the iris of the eye

World (formerly WorldCoin) launches limited beta testing of new AgentKit project

The company that was called WorldCoin until the end of 2024 and aimed to become a “prototype of the future” after artificial intelligence became more in demand than cryptocurrencies announced the start of testing its new platform – AgentKit. According to representatives of World, the technology will allow directly linking AI agents with their account owners using iris scanning. This should strengthen protection against abuse and increase trust in the system.

Brief company history
StageWhat happenedJuly 2023WorldCoin (founder – Sam Altman, head of OpenAI) launched a global service. Users could use cryptocurrency only after identity verification. project centerOrb equipment scans eyes and generates a unique World ID that is anchored on the blockchain under a pseudonym. This allows users to make transactions without revealing real identification.October 2024The company renamed itself “World” – the word “Coin” was removed, as the company decided to exit the cryptocurrency market and focus on biometric devices. Altman promised to gather 1 billion users in two years; today the number is only 18 million. Decline in valueWorldCoin cryptocurrency fell more than 76 % since launch, and the idea of blockchain identification became less popular.

What is AgentKit
- An extension of Coinbase’s x402 protocol – allows exchanging digital assets directly over HTTP.
- Micro‑payments for access to online resources – limit AI agents’ ability to use services without payment, but this does not always deter attackers. World considers additional biometric verification necessary.
- World ID as a cryptographic proof of identity – a user can confirm their uniqueness without revealing personal data and pass that confirmation to an AI agent.

How AgentKit works
1. The user obtains a World ID by scanning eyes through Orb.
2. Using the World ID, they delegate identification to their AI agent.
3. One person can share their World ID with an unlimited number of agents.
4. An agent, possessing this proof, gains access to resources and services with micro‑payment fees.

Benefits for business
- Spam prevention – identity verification makes automated attacks harder.
- Fraud prevention – e.g., reselling tickets or fake bookings.
- Clean news ratings – reduces the possibility of “junk” comments and reviews.

What’s next
To get agencies interested in AgentKit, support from companies working with identification will be needed. The technology is still in beta testing, but World aims to expand its use among large services where AI agent security is critical.