The creator of the hugely popular AI bot ChatGPT has launched a controversial project that offers users a free share of cryptocurrency in exchange for their biometric data. Nearly four years after founding Worldcoin, OpenAI boss Sam Altman announced on Monday that the crypto wallet and app is now available in countries where it is not banned for regulatory or legal reasons. More than 1.5 million people signed up to the venture prior to its official launch, each receiving a share of Worldcoin tokens in exchange for scanning their iris using a silver orb developed by the startup. The biometric data was used to verify each individual’s “unique personhood” and ensure that no one signed up more than once. Each person will now be able to use the Worldcoin token, which is currently valued at $2.59 (£2), according to CoinMarketCap, having begun trading on Monday just below $2. Worldcoin (WLD) is similar to other cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, in that it uses blockchain technology to enable digital transactions. According to its website, people can use it for “remittances, [to] tip artists, [and] buy and sell goods and services”. The main differentiator is the way that users sign up, with privacy advocates warning that it could lead to a black market of people’s iris scans. Worldcoin has defended its technology by claiming that its orb is only used to check that a person is unique and has not signed up before. The startup’s website states: “We don’t want to know who you are, just that you are unique”. Worldcoin co-founder Alex Blania wrote in a note published on Monday that he believed Worldcoin “could drastically increase economic opportunity, scale a reliable solution for distinguishing humans from AI online while preserving privacy, enable democratic processes, and eventually show a potential path to AI-funded universal basic income.” He added: “Worldcoin is an attempt at global scale alignment, the journey will be challenging and outcome is uncertain. But finding new ways to broadly share the coming technological prosperity is a critical challenge of our time.” Worldcoin does not list the countries in which it operates – The Independent has reached out for further information – though it is not yet available in Mr Altman’s native US. The startup founder was only able to sign up himself on a trip to Europe earlier this year. “Like any really ambitious project, maybe it works out and maybe it doesn’t, but trying stuff like this is how progress happens,” Mr Altman tweeted following Worldcoin’s launch. “In either case, we especially love our haters, it gives us energy, please keep it coming.” Read More What is superintelligence? How AI could wipe out humanity – and why the boss of ChatGPT is doomsday prepping How bad is bitcoin for the environment really? Crypto experts discuss bitcoin price predictions What is Solana? The crypto rising 200-times faster than bitcoin

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Post Malone and Joe Rogan discussed the rise of the NPC streams on TikTok, calling the trend "crazy" and "so strange." During an appearance on the podcast The Joe Rogan Experience, Post Malone brought up the topic of the NPC trend after Rogan commented on the fact that people “watch a lot of s*** they hate". The NPC trend is where the streamers appear animated through their actions, hence being comparable to gaming NPCs, where they often repeat their movements or sayings. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Streamers will only interact, speak or perform a specific action when they receive a gift from a viewer. One of the most popular NPC streamers is Pinkydoll, who is known for her catchphrase "Ice cream, so good!" when gifted an ice cream emoji in her streams. @kiki_saysso New trend? Should I try it? credit: @pinkydollreal #pinkydoll #ai #npctrend #viral #tiktoksensation #livestream The Sunflower singer quoted this Pinkydoll's catchphrase to Rogan when explaining the trend. "I'm like wow, this is kind of crazy," Post said. To which Rogan asked if Pinkydoll ever breaks character as Post recalled a time he watched one of her streams where she did. The pair then watched one of the TikToker's most viral videos and in response, Rogan described it as "so strange". "But she is really hot and that helps," the podcaster added. "That’s why that works. Let’s not pretend. Like if she was gross, like that lady is beautiful. "So, when she does that, people are like. What is she? I’ll get her to lick her lips like, $7000 a day. That’s not bad.” Elsewhere, Rogan was recently 'perplexed' at men's 'appalling' backlash to Barbie movie. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

With the power of social media, the most unsuspecting moments have the ability to become a worldwide internet meme in the blink of an eye and that is certainly what happened with the emergence of the 'Flying Adam Warlock' meme from the new Guardians of the Galaxy film. Flying Adam Warlock makes reference to a video that comes from the 2023 film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. It shows the fictional character Adam Warlock, played by British actor Will Poulter, flying towards the camera in the direction of the viewers. It is the first scene that Warlock’s character appears in and he makes quite the entrance, gradually flying close to the camera while the Heart song Crazy on You plays in the background. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter The scene became an instant meme and was used widely on TikTok as a video format to which users would add their own text overlay for some amusing meme content. According to Know Your Meme, the earliest iteration emerged on YouTube and was shared by the account Smashzilla. It featured the video of Warlock, while text over the top read, “Me on the way to your mom’s house”. Guardians of the Galaxy 3 Adam Warlock (First appearance) Meme | smashzilla memes 188 www.youtube.com Since it first appeared, the format has exploded across platforms like TikTok. One clip that has been viewed over 2.6 million times had text overlay reading: “Mum: ‘Just be home by 10pm’. Me at 2am:” @justashelfthesecond Real. #guardiansofthegalaxyvol3 #guardiansofthegalaxy #gotg3 #gotg #relatable #marvel #viraltiktok #viralvideo #viral #trendingvideo #fyp #fypage #fypシ゚viral #foryourpage #foryoupage #adamwarlock #mum #me #literallyme Others even attempted to recreate the Flying Adam Warlock meme themselves. In one video with 1.2 million views, a guy could be seen lying on a longboard and rolling towards the camera resembling the original clip. @dankusama0.0 Right on time ? #fyp #fypシ #fypage #foryoupage #foryou #real #relatable #meme #memes #humour #haha #hehe #funnyvideo #gym #gymtok #gymrat #gymbro #gymmeme #gymmemes #guardiansofthegalaxy #adamwarlock #humour #gymlife #fitness #fittok #marvel One TikToker replied: “This COULD be Adam Warlock.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

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