Mumbai, January 30: OpenAI is reportedly in the early stages of developing a new social media platform designed to be exclusively for verified human users. According to reports from Forbes and NDTV, the AI giant aims to address the growing “dead internet” problem, where bots and automated accounts dominate online discourse, by implementing strict “proof of personhood” requirements for its members.

The project is currently being managed by a small team of fewer than 10 people. While still in its infancy, the platform is envisioned as a real-humans-only network, a strategy that would distinguish it from incumbents like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok, which have long struggled with bot-driven misinformation, cryptocurrency scams, and artificial engagement. ChatGPT Translate Interface Launched by OpenAI, Supports 47 Languages.

OpenAI Biometric Social Network

To ensure that every account is tied to a physical person, OpenAI is exploring the use of biometric identity recognition. Sources indicate that the platform may require users to verify themselves using Apple’s Face ID or the World Orb, a specialised iris-scanning device developed by World (formerly Worldcoin). World is operated by Tools for Humanity, a company co-founded and chaired by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

This biometric approach represents a significant departure from traditional verification methods used by Facebook or LinkedIn, which typically rely on email, phone numbers, or behavioural signals. While a biometric solution could theoretically eliminate bots, privacy advocates have raised concerns regarding the security of unchangeable iris data and the potential for misuse if such a database were ever compromised.

Sam Altman on Bot Problem

The initiative follows public frustrations voiced by Sam Altman regarding the state of modern social media. In late 2025, Altman noted that platforms like X and Reddit felt increasingly “fake”, citing the dead internet theory, which suggests that the majority of internet traffic and content is now generated by AI rather than humans. By creating a verified human space, OpenAI hopes to reclaim the authenticity of digital interaction.

Despite the focus on human users, the platform is expected to integrate OpenAI’s existing creative tools. Users will likely be able to generate and share high-quality AI content, such as videos from Sora or images from DALL-E, within a verified environment. This would position OpenAI as a direct competitor to Meta’s Instagram, which already allows users to create AI-generated imagery directly in-app.

Market Competition and Growth

OpenAI enters a crowded market where established players are already fighting for dominance. Meta’s Threads has grown to match X in daily mobile users, while decentralised platforms like Bluesky have surpassed 40 million users. However, OpenAI’s track record of virality, with ChatGPT reaching 800 million users and Sora hitting 1 million downloads in under five days, suggests it could be a formidable challenger. Elon Musk Claims xAI’s Grok Imagine 1.0 Generates More Images and Videos Than All Competitors Combined; Says Rapid Improvements Coming Every Week.

There is currently no official launch timeline for the social network, and OpenAI has declined to comment on the reports. As the project is in the early stages, the final product could change significantly or be integrated into existing OpenAI services before a public unveiling is considered.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 30, 2026 08:04 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).