On May 1, 2025, San Francisco welcomed the first World storefront location in the United States in the heart of the City’s iconic Union Square, marking a significant milestone in World’s mission to accelerate every human in the age of AI.
The flagship store received front page coverage in the San Francisco Chronicle, and local broadcast coverage across the ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC affiliates. The night before the official opening, World hosted a celebration that brought together civic leaders, including San Francisco Mayor Daniel Laurie and California Governor Gavin Newsom, highlighting the technological and civic importance of World's U.S. debut.
Daniel Lurie, Mayor of San Francisco.
Gavin Newsom, Governor of California.
San Francisco – birthplace of World's vision – now hosts its first American flagship. This homecoming embodies the concept conceived within this very city: technology that preserves human distinctiveness in an increasingly AI-driven world.
The Union Square location also perfectly captures the spirit of both San Francisco and World's mission – a harmonious balance of innovation and heritage. Nestled beside the iconic Macy's flagship on Geary Street, this space introduces proof of human technology to a neighborhood that has symbolized San Francisco's cultural and commercial identity for generations.
The Orb Experience
Inside the minimalist blonde wood and open-space interior, visitors encounter World's signature Orb – the NVIDIA-powered device that verifies unique humanness. This technology creates an anonymous verification that confirms humanity without compromising privacy, as all verification data remains exclusively on the individual's device.
The storefront serves as both a proof of human verification center and an educational hub, introducing visitors to the potential applications of World ID in an increasingly AI-dominated digital landscape.
A Growing Network
The San Francisco flagship is one of six initial U.S. locations, joining Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, and Nashville. World's US expansion builds on its established global presence, which now serves over 26 million users across more than 160 countries.
Through partnerships with companies like Match Group, Visa, and Razer, World ID is already demonstrating practical applications in dating verification, financial services, and gaming. As proof of human becomes increasingly central to digital interaction, World's technology offers a privacy-preserving solution that puts humans in control of their digital presence.
This strategic launch represents the next evolution of World's mission to provide secure, privacy-preserving proof of human technology in an age where distinguishing between human and artificial becomes increasingly vital.
World's flagship store at 281 Geary Street is now open. For more information about World Network and to find the nearest verification location, visit: world.org/find-orb.
Learn more
To stay informed about World, visit the World website or subscribe to the blog below.
You can also join the daily conversation on all World social media channels, or get additional important information concerning the project by reading the World protocol whitepaper.