Sam Altman’s OpenAI Working on New Social Network With No Bot Accounts

World Orb is a special type of iris scanner that creates a unique identity for each individual based on the iris of the eye. This system is operated by Tools for Humanity, a company founded and chaired by Sam Altman.

Indeed, bot accounts have long been a major problem on social media platforms. These accounts are often used to inflate cryptocurrency prices, spread hateful content, or mislead public opinion. This problem on Twitter became particularly acute after Elon Musk acquired the company, renamed it X, and laid off approximately 80% of its staff. This weakened the trust and safety team. Although Musk launched a campaign against bots, and approximately 1.7 million bot accounts were removed by 2025, the problem hasn't completely disappeared.

Sam Altman himself has been an active user on X since 2008 and has repeatedly expressed his displeasure with bots. In September 2025, he wrote that Twitter and Reddit, filled with AI, no longer feel as real as they once did. More recently, he referred to the "Dead Internet Theory," noting that a large number of AI-run accounts are now visible on social media. Instagram chief Adam Mosseri also stated in December 2025 that social media feeds are gradually becoming filled with "synthetic content."

Platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn use phone numbers, email addresses, and behavioral signals for identity proofing, but they don't adopt biometric identification. OpenAI's approach may be different. However, privacy experts have expressed concerns about technology like World Orb, as iris scans cannot be altered and could pose a threat if they fall into the wrong hands.

It's currently unclear how OpenAI's social network will integrate with its existing products, but reports suggest it could allow users to create content such as videos and images using AI. A launch timeline is currently unclear, and it could undergo significant changes before public release.