The device, known as the Orb, was created by Tools for Humanity, a company co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Its goal is to create a verified digital identity for individuals.
Pacifica resident Paul Volfovski said he sees the appeal.
"I like it. Can't fake it," he said.
The Orb works with the World ID app. After downloading the app, users stand in front of the device, which captures an image of their face and iris. That image is encrypted into a code and sent to the app to verify the user is human.
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Trevor Traina, chief business officer at Tools for Humanity, said the Orb uses multiple sensors to confirm identity.
"The Orb takes our photo and uses sensors to prove that we are three dimensional human beings," he said.
The company says more than 18 million people are already using the system. Some platforms, including Zoom and DocuSign, have begun adopting it, and event organizers are exploring its use to ensure concert tickets are purchased by humans, not bots.
"Half of all activity on the internet is bot-driven, and that's only going to get worse," Traina said.
Traina emphasized that the system does not store users' personal information in a traditional database.
"The Orb is not storing your data. Once it determines you are new to the project, it issues you an ID on your phone, under your control. The photo it took is sent to your phone, and then it destroys its copy," he said.
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When asked whether the system could be hacked, Traina said the data is "sharded," meaning it is split into pieces managed by universities around the world.
"There is no database that says this is your name, your address, whatever. The app doesn't ask you any of those questions," he said.
Still, some experts warn that biometric data carries inherent risks. UC Law Assistant Professor Zac Henderson said the permanence of such data raises concerns if it were ever compromised.
"Unlike your username or password -- or even your Social Security number, which can be changed -- you get one copy of your irises. If your biometric data gets into someone else's hands, that's it. There's no going back," he said.
Public reaction appears mixed.
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Tourist Simen Bakken described the idea as both innovative and unsettling.
"It's a more accessible way of ID, but it's also a little bit scary," he said.
Volfovski said widespread adoption may be inevitable.
"I don't think it's avoidable. So, I think you've got to get on the bandwagon," he said.
Depending on who you ask, biometric verification may offer a solution to growing concerns about online bots -- or introduce new questions about privacy and security as the technology evolves.