World App adds encrypted chat & human ID in Malaysia

World, the digital identity project backed by Sam Altman, has launched an updated version of its World App in Malaysia that adds encrypted messaging and human verification tools in a single service.

Developer Tools for Humanity said the new feature, called World Chat, introduces an encrypted messaging layer that links conversations to the app's existing proof-of-humanness system.

The group positions World Network as a digital trust layer, with World App as the main entry point for users. It said tens of millions of people globally already use World App and that adoption is rising.

According to the company, nearly 40 million people currently use the app and almost 20 million have verified World IDs. It said that in September users signed up for the app every 1.7 seconds and that someone verified at a World Orb every 3.6 seconds.

The updated app launch in Malaysia follows a live "Unwrapped" event at World's headquarters in San Francisco, where co-founders Altman and Alex Blania presented the new experience.

Encrypted messaging

World Chat sits inside World App and offers encrypted messaging without requiring a phone number. It uses the XMTP protocol, which the company said provides end-to-end encryption that meets or exceeds the standard associated with Signal.

Tools for Humanity said World Chat focuses on authenticity, privacy and human connection. It said the feature represents a significant move toward a communication layer that treats human identity as a core element of messaging.

The company has built a visual indicator into chats that shows whether the person on the other end holds a verified World ID. Messages appear in blue bubbles when a contact has verified their identity through World ID. Grey bubbles appear for contacts that have not verified.

World plans a further update that will link profile images to verified faces. Users will be able to opt in to a process that checks whether their chosen profile photo matches their real face. The company said this will reduce the risk of deepfake images in profile avatars and will increase trust across dating, commerce and community interactions.

Ryuji Wolf, Regional General Manager of Meridian East at World operating partner Tools for Humanity, said the group sees the launch as part of a broader shift in how online identity is managed.

"World shows what a human-verified internet looks like when trust is built in from the start. These are practical tools people can use today, and they are the foundation for a more human-centred digital ecosystem." said Ryuji Wolf, Regional General Manager of Meridian East, an operating partner of World.

Trust and identity

World Network links biometric verification at physical "Orb" devices with a digital identity called World ID. Users undergo an in-person check at an Orb and receive a cryptographic identifier that signals they are a unique human without exposing their biometric data during routine use of the app.

World App acts as a wallet and identity client for this network. Tools for Humanity said it wants the combination of proof-of-human status and messaging in one service to underpin a more trusted environment for online interaction and transactions.

The company expects human verification in messaging to appeal to users who face an increase in AI-generated content, bots and impersonation online. It said the system can indicate that a sender is a verified person, even though the content of messages remains encrypted.

World said the addition of deepfake-resistant profile checks is a response to growing concern over synthetic media. It expects verified images to influence sectors such as online dating, peer-to-peer marketplaces and community groups that rely on profile trust.

Rollout plans

The new World App with integrated World Chat is starting a global rollout on iOS and Android. Malaysian users will see the updated experience as the release reaches local app stores.

Tools for Humanity said adoption data indicates continued demand for World App as it expands the service beyond digital identity into communications. It said the combination of verified human identities, encrypted messaging and optional image verification will form part of the broader infrastructure for what it describes as a more human internet.