Sam Altman’s World releases major protocol upgrade, introduces World ID app
The protocol upgrade introduces an account-based architecture with multi-key support, key rotation, and recovery mechanisms.
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Add us on Google by Vivian Nguyen Apr. 17, 2026World, the biometric identity network co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, on Friday rolled out a major upgrade to World ID that expands it into a full-stack proof of human system for consumer apps, enterprise infrastructure and AI agent workflows.
Announced at the Lift Off event by Altman and Alex Blania, the update comes as World scales rapidly. The network now counts nearly 18 million users in 160 countries.
Core protocol redesign
As part of the upgrade, the system now operates on an account-based architecture with multiple authenticators, recovery options and session management to improve portability and resilience.
The upgrade strengthens privacy through zero-knowledge proofs and one-time-use nullifiers that prevent tracking across platforms, while adding new capabilities for verifying that a real human is behind online actions, including those carried out by AI agents.
The redesign also introduces “human continuity,” a capability enabling systems to verify that the same real individual is present across multiple sessions or actions. The feature targets risks such as account takeovers, impersonation, and unauthorized AI-driven activity.
Launch of World ID app
World said it has also officially open-sourced the World ID Software Development Kit (SDK), allowing third-party applications to act as authenticators.
To spearhead this transition, the company introduced a new World ID app that lets users manage their authenticators and control how their digital identity is shared across the internet.
Now available for public beta testing, the app acts as an ID hub for managing identity, credentials, and verification across services, the team indicated.
Expansion into AI and enterprise use cases
World’s AgentKit now lets a verified human delegate their proof-of-human credential to an AI agent, so any service receiving requests from that agent can confirm a real person is behind it.
The upgrade also emphasizes enterprise adoption as World positions its technology as a verification layer for workflows that incorporate automated tools operating on behalf of users.
New features enable systems in which automated processes can function under verified human authorization, while still requiring human confirmation for critical steps. The company also implements safeguards aimed at reducing abuse of APIs and limiting unauthorized automated activity.
With these capabilities, companies can automate purchasing, control access to their systems, and handle their enterprise operations in a more secure manner, according to the team.
World said it is working with companies including Zoom, DocuSign, and Okta to apply these tools in areas such as meeting verification, document authentication, and identity management.
Consumer-facing use cases
World ID is also targeting expansion across consumer services and developer infrastructure to embed proof-of-human verification into everyday digital experiences.
The company has deepened its partnership with Tinder and Razer to bring its verification system to consumer platforms, targeting use cases such as reducing fake profiles in dating and limiting bot activity in gaming environments.
World is making this push while its native token, WLD, trades at roughly $0.3, a 94% decline from its all-time high of nearly $12 in March 2024, per CoinGecko.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Vivian Nguyen. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
