2.1 Identity Layer incumbents in AI Safety space
Before we propose Human ID, we will analyse Worldcoin and Humanity Protocol that depend solely on biometric based Identity layers to enable AI safety.
The Worldcoin project by Sam Altman of Open AI is trying to solve for:
Distinguishing between bots and humans
AGI or Singularity Paradox through Universal Basic Income (UBI) enabled through a global financial network
There are certain caveats in the project, it knows that Human A is Human but it doesn’t know which Human is Human A. By design it won’t work in case of an intentional or unintentional AI safety mishap perpetrated by a human. There is no clarity on how Worldcoin will solve for AGI through UBI but the fundamental construct of the project limits it, at best to an equitable distribution of value created by AGI or as per the holding pattern of WLD tokens.
The other issues revolve around the actual implementation such as:
Regulatory Backlash: 29 out of 38 countries where Worldcoin was launched have banned it due to the extremely sensitive biometric data collection method in a very dystopian way i.e. iris scanning through Biometric devices called Orbs. Data collection of minors.
Iris data collection through Orbs is highly unscalable, uncomfortable and expensive. Worldcoin has succeeded in verifying only 45% of users who have downloaded the app. Users spend close to 1 to 2 hours or more time to get verified including travel time to reach Orb Verification Venues.
Token Farming: Token Farmers install Worldcoin App in simulators on phones or low cost phones and get unaware users to verify themselves in return for some incentive. For e.g. Argentina has a thriving ecosystem of Bus transport companies offering USD 50 to 100 to users for token farming with daily buses plying from rural or semi-urban regions for a free day trip to bigger towns along with free meals. Similar token farming cheats or variations of it have been noticed in other countries too.
Hollow World ID: There is no legal identity linked to World ID and hence similar to click farming scamming companies of valuable Ad spend. WLD Token farmers control World ID of users, rendering the World ID solution somewhat useless or defeat its noble goal as by design Worldcoin doesn’t know who the user is. Key difference being in click farms the stakes are too low and downside for platforms is only monetary loss but World ID is designed as a potential solution for AGI and situations like this can be catastrophic.
Humanity Protocol attempts to achieve the same objectives as Worldcoin with a similar approach except the key difference is they will scan palms through mobile phones which is more scalable than scanning iris through Orbs (specific hardware at fixed geographic location to collect biometric data). But it is going to face all the issues that Worldcoin faces except for the ease of biometric data collection but with the increased risk of lacking a trusted environment when data is collected.
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