Tools for Humanity has launched an updated World App experience in Malaysia, introducing World Chat, an encrypted messaging feature designed to help users communicate with verified real people as concerns grow over AI-generated content and digital impersonation.
The updated app combines private messaging with proof-of-humanness, aiming to improve trust in everyday digital interactions. The new experience was unveiled last week during a live “Unwrapped” event at the company’s headquarters in San Francisco by co-founders Sam Altman and Alex Blania.
World Network is positioned as a trust layer for the internet, with World App serving as the primary access point. Globally, the app has close to 40 million users, with almost 20 million people verified as real humans through World ID. Adoption continues to accelerate, with sign-ups occurring every 1.7 seconds and a new user verifying their identity at a World Orb every 3.6 seconds, according to the company.
Ryuji Wolf, Regional General Manager of Meridian East, an operating partner of World, said the platform demonstrates how human verification can be embedded into digital services from the outset. He said the tools being introduced are intended for immediate use and form part of a broader effort to build a more human-centred digital ecosystem.
World Chat is integrated directly into World App and offers end-to-end encrypted messaging using the XMTP protocol. The company says the encryption standard meets or exceeds those used by established secure messaging platforms, with no requirement for a phone number and no collection of metadata.
The messaging feature also introduces visual indicators to distinguish between verified and unverified contacts, using coloured chat bubbles to signal whether a user has a verified World ID. In addition, World plans to introduce optional profile photo verification, allowing users to confirm that their profile image matches their real appearance, a feature aimed at reducing the impact of deepfakes and impersonation across social, commercial and community interactions.
Tools for Humanity said the combination of secure messaging and human verification is intended to support safer online communication as AI-generated identities become more common. The updated World App is beginning a global rollout on iOS and Android, including availability in Malaysia.
