Worldcoin Foundation Releases Open-Source Components for Orb’s Software
In a groundbreaking move, the Worldcoin Foundation has made core components of the Orb’s software publicly available on GitHub under an MIT/Apache 2.0 dual license. This release adds to the foundation’s existing public hardware and iris recognition repositories, further advancing the Worldcoin Tech Tree.
The Orb is a revolutionary solution designed to verify human identity online, prioritizing privacy and security. Its development represents a significant step in differentiating humans from artificial intelligence by utilizing biometric verification methods.
The newly released open-source components are essential for the Orb’s operation, which involves capturing images and securely transferring them to the World App. This system supports the World ID verification process, offering the highest level of verification to confirm an individual’s humanness. Through a series of checks that include eye and face image analysis, followed by iris verification, the Orb ensures the individual’s uniqueness swiftly and effectively.
Privacy and security are at the core of the Orb’s design, setting new standards for biometric devices. Images are processed directly on the device and securely transferred to the user, eliminating the need for external storage or central backend processing. The device is also highly resistant to spoofing and tampering, crucial for maintaining integrity in potentially adversarial environments. Transparency and verifiability are key features, allowing for public auditing of the Orbs, including software and cryptographic key checks.
The Orb’s technical infrastructure is powered by Tools for Humanity (TFH), which has dedicated years to developing a secure computing environment for the device. The NVIDIA Jetson plays a central role in processing data from five camera streams to verify World ID in moments. Additionally, the device incorporates Arm Cortex M4 microcontrollers for controls and a secure element for storing cryptographic keys, ensuring efficiency and security in its operations.
On the software side, the Orb runs multiple Rust applications on the Jetson, utilizing asynchronous programming and NVIDIA’s TensorRT engine for neural network inference. This setup maximizes the Jetson’s GPU power to handle essential functions such as sensor data processing and system updates efficiently.
The device is powered by Orb OS, a custom GNU/Linux distribution prioritizing security. Featuring system integrity checks, a security-hardened configuration, and a comprehensive update system, Orb OS supports reproducible builds and critical cryptographic operations, ensuring the Orb operates securely and effectively in verifying human identity.
The release of key software components, including the do_signup function in orb-core, signifies a significant advancement in the World ID verification process. This function orchestrates the sequence of capturing images, processing biometric data, and securely transmitting signed iris codes to a uniqueness verification service, ensuring privacy and security throughout the process.
Worldcoin, co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Max Novendstern, and Alex Blania in 2019, continues to push boundaries in the realm of identity verification and biometric technology.
