**Near Protocol's AI Ambition Unveiled in Bangkok**

Near Protocol has announced plans to create the world's largest open-source AI model, surpassing Meta's Llama model by 3.5 times. This ambitious project was revealed at the Redacted conference in Bangkok.

- The AI model will be developed through crowdsourced R&D on Near's new AI Research hub.

- Participants can start with a 500 million parameter model from November 10.

- The project will evolve through seven models, rewarding top contributors.

- Funding will come from token sales, with contributors benefiting from model usage.

Near co-founders, with backgrounds in AI, emphasize the importance of decentralized AI for privacy and innovation.