Orb Startup Urges Employees to Prioritize Work Over External Distractions
Tools for Humanity, the startup co-founded by Sam Altman, is driving home a strict message to its employees: prioritize work over all external distractions. This directive was part of an all-hands meeting held in January, where CEO Alex Blania expressed the company’s intense focus on its mission.
Work Commitment for Humanity’s Future
During the meeting, Blania emphasized their goal of building a global digital identity system. This system aims to verify people’s humanity in a world increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence. He stated, “We will neither fail nor be average; that’s all that matters.” Employees were told that any distractions from this mission were unacceptable.
Team Values and Culture
The company has established a set of values on a screen in their former San Francisco office, which reflects its hardcore work culture. Key messages include:
- Commitment to hard work and success for humanity.
- Compliance with the expectation to work weekends and be on call.
- Intolerance for slowness and prioritizing performance over comfort.
According to a former employee, these values were crafted by Blania himself. They underscore the need for transparency and dedication within the team, promoting a passionate focus on efficiency and effectiveness in fulfilling their mission.
Targets and AI Integration
In the January meeting, Blania outlined ambitious goals: to deploy 3,000 Orbs to verify 30 million users by the end of the quarter and achieve 100 million verifications by the year’s end. Currently, Tools for Humanity has verified approximately 17.5 million individuals, which is just under 2% of its long-term target of a billion users.
To enhance productivity, employees were encouraged to harness artificial intelligence. Damien Kieran, the company’s chief legal and privacy officer, acknowledged that they had not fully utilized AI capabilities. Plans were mentioned regarding a partnership with ChatGPT Enterprise to further integrate AI into their work processes.
Looking Ahead
Moreover, Kieran announced that another AI model, Gemini Enterprise, would soon be accessible to staff, further expanding their tools for enhancing efficiency. As the company moves forward, its stringent focus on work commitment and innovative technologies appears to be a cornerstone for achieving their mission.
