OpenAI’s Social Network May Use Eye Scans to Keep Bots Out

OpenAI is reportedly exploring the use of biometric verification as part of early plans for its own social network — a move aimed at solving one of the most persistent problems in modern social media: bots.

According to Forbes, the project is still at a very early stage, but internal discussions have focused on building a platform designed exclusively for real people. The idea is simple in theory but radical in execution — verify users at the identity level, not just with email addresses or phone numbers.

Biometrics as a barrier against bots

Sources familiar with the project told Forbes that OpenAI has considered requiring users to provide some form of “proof of personhood.” Options reportedly discussed include Apple’s Face ID technology or World Orb, a device that scans the iris to confirm human identity.

World Orb is developed by Tools for Humanity, a company founded and led by Sam Altman, who also serves as OpenAI’s chief executive. The overlap has drawn attention, especially as the potential social network would position itself as a cleaner alternative to existing platforms.

A response to the bot-driven internet

Bot activity has long been an issue across social platforms, but the problem has become particularly visible on X, formerly known as Twitter. Altman himself has publicly criticized the scale of automated and AI-driven accounts on the platform.

In late 2025, he referenced the so-called “dead internet theory,” suggesting that large portions of online interaction are increasingly generated or amplified by artificial systems rather than real users.

Privacy concerns remain unresolved

While biometric verification could significantly reduce bot activity, privacy advocates warn that the risks are substantial. Unlike passwords or email addresses, biometric identifiers — such as iris scans — cannot be changed if compromised.

Forbes notes that critics fear such data, if leaked or misused, could have irreversible consequences for users. These concerns may become a major obstacle if OpenAI moves forward with the project.

A crowded competitive landscape

If launched, OpenAI’s social network would enter an already saturated market dominated by Instagram, TikTok, and X. Its main differentiator would not be content formats or algorithms, but trust — the promise that interactions are primarily between verified humans.

At this stage, OpenAI has not provided any official timeline or confirmation regarding the launch of a social platform. For now, the idea remains exploratory — but it signals how seriously the company is thinking about identity, authenticity, and the future shape of online communities.