OpenAI Develops Biometric Social Network to Eliminate Bots

OpenAI is developing an early-stage social media platform designed to combat the proliferation of bot accounts and the dead internet phenomenon. The project is currently managed by a small internal team of fewer than ten people. To ensure each account represents a unique human, the company is exploring biometric verification methods, including Apple's Face ID and the World Orb iris-scanning device.

The platform intends to integrate AI tools such as ChatGPT and Sora, enabling users to generate images and videos directly within the application. This initiative places OpenAI in direct competition with established networks including X, Instagram, TikTok, and Meta's Threads.

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI and leader of Tools for Humanity, has criticized the artificiality of current platforms, noting that the existing social media experience felt "fake". The project has sparked internal debates regarding the privacy and security risks associated with handling sensitive biometric data. While the head of Instagram has noted that feeds are increasingly filling with synthetic content, OpenAI has declined to comment officially on the project and has not announced a launch date.