Heaptalk, Jakarta — Tools For Humanity (TFH), founded by Sam Altman and Alex Blania, has launched its identity verification tool, World, in Indonesia. The tool aims to strengthen digital security and provide anti-bot verification (02/11).
This “proof of human” technology offers services to protect the public from identity theft, deepfake fraud, and other digital threats while supporting Indonesia’s vision for a safer and more inclusive digital economy. Recently, cyber threats related to AI and personal identity have surged significantly in Indonesia. Online fraud leveraging AI has skyrocketed by 1,550% since 2022. Additionally, identity theft cases increased by 25% in 2023, resulting in economic losses exceeding Rp500 billion.
Adrian Ludwig, Tools For Humanity’s chief information security officer, shared the company’s origins, explaining that Sam and Alex were concerned about what the world would look like as AI approached its current level of capability. This concern led to the development of a technological protocol for human authentication.
“Six years ago, nobody was worried about it. As they were thinking about the role humanity would have in that environment, they realized they wanted to build a company called Tools for Humanity to ensure we, as a species, were prepared for what the world was going to become. As they continued those discussions, they realized something was missing: the ability to distinguish a person from AI on the internet,” Adrian said during the exclusive launch of World in Central Jakarta (02/11).
Installed by 23 million people
In more detail, World ID is a human verification system that confirms a person’s unique identity without collecting or storing personal data. This verification is carried out using the Orb, a new device that can detect whether someone is a real human or not. The verification process does not require a name, address, national identification number, or any other personal data, making it a breakthrough in digital security while maintaining individual privacy.
Around 23 million people have installed the World app and are connected. Adrian stated, “For some people, those are big numbers. But our aspiration is to reach 8 billion. Our goal is to provide a protocol that can be used by everyone in the world.”
Wafa Taftazani, General Manager of Tools for Humanity Indonesia, reaffirmed World’s commitment to supporting Indonesia’s digital and economic vision. “The Indonesian government has set an ambitious vision for cybersecurity and digital transformation, and World is ready to contribute to realizing that vision. World is committed to collaborating with regulators, communities, and other stakeholders to build a safer and more inclusive digital ecosystem in Indonesia,” said Wafa.
The company has partnered with multiple entities in the country, including the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI), for a national-scale AI essay competition. Additionally, discussions are ongoing with the Presidential Communications Office to ensure alignment with Indonesia’s privacy system strategy and digital initiatives.
