Eye-Scanning Tech Aims to Reclaim Concert Tickets for Fans

A company backed by Sam Altman is pitching its biometric verification system as an answer to the music industry's ticket bot scourge. Tools for Humanity has introduced Concert Kit, a tool that lets artists reserve tickets exclusively for people verified by its World ID system.

World ID uses a spherical device called an orb to scan a person's iris, creating a unique, anonymous identifier stored on their phone. This functions as a digital credential confirming the user is a real person. With Concert Kit, artists can designate a portion of their ticket inventory for these verified individuals, who can then secure codes for platforms like Ticketmaster or AXS.

The company argues that because each World ID is tied to a single verified human, automated bots cannot infiltrate these reserved ticket pools. Bruno Mars will employ the system on his upcoming world tour, and it is now available to other performers. Artists can choose their required verification level, and a new app version allows setup via a selfie for those without orb access.

This concert application is part of a broader push for World ID adoption. Tinder is expanding a global test, using the verification to signal a profile is operated by a human. Zoom and DocuSign are integrating the technology to combat deepfakes on calls and fraudulent document signatures.

Tools for Humanity's Chief Product Officer, Tiago Sada, acknowledges skepticism about asking users to prove their humanity. He likens initial resistance to early biometric features on smartphones and emphasizes the system's optional nature. The goal, he suggests, is to offer an enhanced experience for those who choose it, shifting some security responsibility away from platforms and onto a portable, user-controlled verification.

Source: Engadget