Tech bros, gather 'round for another wild ride in the world of surveillance capitalism! Sam Altman, the OpenAI overlord, has unleashed a potentially creepy eye-scanning project called World Network that promises to distinguish humans from AI bots - with some hilariously awkward initial results.

The Black Mirror Moment

Imagine walking into a wooden circular installation in Union Square, ready to prove your humanity, only to find the high-tech orbs having an existential crisis. That’s exactly what happened during the launch, where curious San Franciscans stared intensely into metallic spheres that momentarily refused to recognize human existence.

The Blockchain Human Verification Experiment

Altman’s brainchild offers an intriguing proposition: scan your iris, get a blockchain-based digital ID, and receive some cryptocurrency. As of March, 11 million brave souls have already participated in this digital human verification experiment. The goal? Preventing AI impersonation across social media, dating apps, and gaming platforms.

Tech Meets Skepticism

Despite the project’s noble intentions, international reactions range from suspicion to outright rejection. World Network has faced raids, blocks, and fines in various countries. One participant, Emil Tybura, perfectly captured the vibe: “This is like Black Mirror, definitely. It’s a spooky vibe of tech being so intrusive into your life”.

By the way, an hour after launch, the machines miraculously started working - because nothing says “cutting-edge technology” like a dramatic system reboot, right?