The Orb / MARC FORNES / THEVERYMANY

Sam Altman’s Eye-Scanning Orb That Verifies Humanness Is Foiled by Contact Lenses

Tools for Humanity, whose cofounder is Sam Altman, created an identity verification device called the Orb that they hope will eventually be used worldwide to distinguish humans from artificial intelligence. By scanning a person’s retina, the sci-fi-esque camera creates a unique digital identity that serves as a secure means of verification for identity-sensitive online platforms. However, the Orb can reportedly be fooled by certain contact lense…

The Orb / MARC FORNES / THEVERYMANY

Completed in 2025 in Mountain View, United States. Images by Doublespace Photography. Commissioned by Google and designed by Marc Fornes/THEVERYMANY, The Orb is a monumental pavilion in Mountain View, California. This 10-meter-tall,...