OpenAI aims to create a real-person social network using iris scanning to address the fake account problem on platform X

According to the latest Forbes report, OpenAI is developing a new social networking platform with the core goal of overcoming the widespread issue of fake accounts on current social networks through biometric verification methods. The project is led by a small team of fewer than 10 people and is still in the early exploratory stage. To ensure that every account on the platform is backed by a real user, OpenAI plans to incorporate Apple’s Face ID or World’s (formerly Worldcoin) iris scanner as authentication tools.

Biometric Verification as a New Approach to Prevent Bots

In the social networking industry, fake accounts have become a persistent problem. The growth of AI-driven fake accounts on X (formerly Twitter) has even sparked discussions about the “dead web theory”—the idea that the internet is being flooded with machine-generated content and false identities. OpenAI’s new initiative essentially aims to rebuild trust in social networks through biometric verification. Users will need to complete “real person” authentication via iris scans or facial recognition to create valid accounts on the platform.

Multi-layer Verification: Combining Face ID and Iris Recognition

OpenAI has proposed two biometric verification pathways. Apple’s Face ID relies on its large iPhone user base and mature usage habits, while World’s iris scanning leverages its global Orb scan network. Data from World shows that its iris recognition system has verified over 17 million users across multiple regions, providing OpenAI with a mature third-party verification infrastructure. The combination of iris and facial recognition technologies aims to create a multi-layered protection system, significantly reducing the likelihood of fake account registrations.

Sam Altman’s Deep Reflection on Social Platforms

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has previously publicly criticized the proliferation of fake accounts on X and bluntly pointed out that AI-driven fake identities are damaging the platform’s ecosystem. The planning of this new social network reflects, to some extent, his obsession with internet authenticity. The platform has not yet announced a specific launch timeline, but it may eventually become a new social ecosystem that gathers genuine users and supports AI-assisted content creation.

The Future Integration of Iris Recognition and Content Creation

This social network is not merely an identity verification platform; OpenAI also plans to integrate AI technology within the platform, enabling users to create video and image content using artificial intelligence. This means that verified real user identities, secured through iris or facial recognition, will provide a foundation for the credibility and traceability of AI-generated content. The application of biometric verification methods like iris scanning may become an important tool in Web3 and social networks for combating fake identities and protecting authentic creators.