Sam Altman’s Orb Company Promoted a Bruno Mars Partnership That Doesn't Exist
Tools for Humanity, co-founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, recently faced backlash after incorrectly announcing that its new Concert Kit technology would launch alongside Bruno Mars' latest world tour, "The Romantic." The company initially promoted exclusive ticket and VIP experience access for "verified humans" during Mars’ concerts.
However, both Bruno Mars' management and tour producer Live Nation clarified in a joint statement that they were never contacted or in discussions with Tools for Humanity about such a partnership. They only learned about the supposed collaboration when it was mentioned during a company event. The event and a related company blog post originally claimed a rollout with Bruno Mars' tour, but these materials were later changed after the error was brought to light. Tools for Humanity now states that the Concert Kit will debut at the 2027 European tour for Thirty Seconds to Mars.
About Tools for Humanity
Founded in 2019 by Sam Altman and Alex Blania, Tools for Humanity is known for its orb-shaped device that scans users' irises to verify their identity using blockchain technology. The goal is to fight bots and scams, particularly in online environments such as ticket sales.
The company’s technology aims to address issues like ticket-buying bots, a persistent problem for platforms like Ticketmaster. This is particularly relevant as Ticketmaster, owned by Live Nation, is under scrutiny for its struggles with bot prevention. Tools for Humanity explicitly referenced infamous bot-related ticketing issues, including problems during Taylor Swift's Eras Tour presale.
Industry Response and Next Steps
While Live Nation and Bruno Mars' team have expressed neutrality toward the technology, the confusion over the partnership announcement highlights challenges for startups looking to partner with major industry figures. Tools for Humanity declined to explain how the error occurred but confirmed there is no association or agreement with Bruno Mars or his concert tour.
The Concert Kit launch was part of the company’s wider effort at its Lift Off event, where collaborations with brands like Tinder, Zoom, and DocuSign were also discussed.
This summary is based on the full article available at WIRED.
