WAO ART #367

Google has released an upgraded version of its AI tool, Gemini, called Gemini 1.5. The new model boasts significant improvements in quality and capabilities compared to its predecessor, Gemini 1.0 Ultra. It can process up to 1M tokens consistently, making it one of the AI models with the longest context window.

According to John Wu, President of Ava Labs, the number of addresses on the Avalanche network grew by almost 100% in 2023. The network currently hosts 20 live subnets, with over 80 subnets expected to go live this year. Wu highlighted the network's scalability and partnerships that have contributed to its growth.

Layer-1 blockchains Klaytn and Finschia are merging to create a web3 ecosystem in Asia. The merger involves over 45 companies, 420 decentralized applications, and over 250 million wallet users. The expansion will focus on Singapore, Vietnam, Taiwan, Thailand, and Abu Dhabi.

Australian police reportedly failed to take action on the HyperVerse crypto Ponzi scheme for two years, according to The Guardian. The scheme, which cost investors $1.7 billion, was first referred to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) in 2020 for possible fraud offenses.

The 11th Edition Connected Banking Summit – East Africa Innovation & Excellence Awards 2024 will take place in Nairobi, Kenya on March 6th, 2024. The summit aims to bring together global executives, experts, and leaders in the banking industry to discuss innovative banking models and digital transformation.

Argentine oil firms in Vaca Muerta are using digital venting mitigation to convert residual gas into power for sustainable bitcoin mining. Pluspetrol and Tecpetrol pioneered this approach, attracting interest from other companies like Petrocuyo and Pampa Energía.

Microsoft plans to invest €3.2B in Germany over the next 2 years to enhance the country's artificial intelligence infrastructure and build new data centers. The investment will focus on constructing new data centers and providing AI training to citizens. This is Microsoft's largest investment in Germany in 40 years.