Demand for identity verification tools rises as AI advances and geopolitical tensions grow

Kibu, a startup offering identity verification services, raised $10.5 million in its seed round and relaunched its app to help individuals confirm the identity of people they interact with and build 'trusted connections' without being tricked by AI or scammers.

The app works as 'human multifactor authentication' (a security method that verifies a person's identity through human confirmation), addressing concerns from financial services, family offices, and government clients.

CEO Ari Andersen attributed increased interest to both AI advances and the geopolitical situation, saying 'Between AI and the geopolitical situation, I think everybody is just really aware and the threat is really crystallizing in people's minds that, even a year ago, it wasn't.'

OpenAI cofounder Sam Altman's World recently announced plans to partner with Zoom and DocuSign to offer identity verification tools in the form of eye-scanning orbs.