Another industry disruption? The "father of ChatGPT" project is expected to receive further funding

　　"Sam Alterman, the "father of ChatGPT" and CEO of artificial intelligence research firm OpenAI, is close to raising $100 million for the crypto project Worldcoin.

　　According to PitchBook, Worldcoin is a digital currency platform operator co-founded by Altman in 2019 to create an open source protocol for global financial fairness and inclusion. Currently, Worldcoin has 175 employees, with Altmann serving as co-CEO at the company.

　　Compared to OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, Worldcoin has a slightly lower profile. Three people familiar with the matter said Worldcoin is in advanced talks to raise funds in the current round and is preparing to launch the cryptocurrency in the coming weeks.

　　One of the people said the negotiations are involving both existing investors and newcomers.

　　One person with knowledge of the fundraising situation said, "It's remarkable that Worldcoin is still getting that much investment at a time when the crypto market is in a bear market and cryptocurrencies are entering a harsh winter."

　　In June 2021, Worldcoin raised $25 million at a $1 billion valuation, with DigitalCurrencyGroup, Coinbase Ventures, a16z, Multicoin Capital, and angel investors including Reid Hoffman, founder of Collage, and Sam Bankman- founder of FTX Fried, and angel investors including Collage founder Reid Hoffman and FTX founder Sam Bankman- Fried participated.

　　In March 2022, Worldcoin sought to raise another $100 million in funding at a $3 billion valuation, with a16z continuing to add to the mix. But last November, one of the investors, Bankman-Fried's cryptocurrency trading platform FTX, declared bankruptcy, making the outlook for the entire industry bleak.

　　But Altmann hasn't given up on the plan, and earlier this week, World Coin launched a new product, the World App, a crypto wallet that, according to an official announcement, is designed to bring to the masses "decentralized identity and finance" for the masses.

　　The announcement also reads, "World App is the first wallet in the Worldcoin ecosystem. It is designed to be user-friendly and supports private digital identity and new financial systems. It can be used to authenticate via World ID to prove you are a real person, access your World Coins and send digital currency anywhere."

　　Worldcoin also hinted at its artificial intelligence (AI) initiative, noting that it aims to "empower individuals in the age of artificial intelligence" by providing "AI-funded UBI. Worldcoin executives said that Worldcoin provides a form of income for people around the world that is expected to offset the job losses caused by AI.

　　It is worth noting that prior to the launch of the World App, Worldcoin launched World ID, an identification protocol that relies on iris recognition and claims to be resistant to AI manipulation, although it has been controversial since its announcement due to privacy risks.