The Week In Facts #78
Summary:
Mobility: Air New Zealand Picks Beta's ALIA for First Electric Demo
Air New Zealand has taken a significant step towards sustainable aviation by choosing BETA Technologies to supply its first electric aircraft, the ALIA CTOL. The airline aims to fly a commercial demonstrator by 2026, marking a pivotal move in its journey towards a greener future.
This decision aligns with Air New Zealand's commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The ALIA CTOL, a single-pilot, three-tonne, 12-metre-long battery-powered aircraft, can travel at 270 kilometers per hour and carry five passengers or cargo.
The first aircraft, expected to be delivered in 2026, will initially be used on routes of around 150 kilometers and will be configured to carry cargo for NZ Post. This partnership represents a significant advancement in the aviation industry, showcasing the potential of electric aircraft in commercial operations and the commitment to environmental sustainability.
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Digital Product Passport: EU Reaches Provisional Agreement for More Sustainable Consumer Products
The European Commission has announced a provisional agreement on the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation, a significant step towards making sustainable products the norm in the EU.
This new law, building on the existing Ecodesign Directive, will set performance and information requirements for key products in the EU market. The focus will be on highly impactful products, including textiles, furniture, and electronics, aiming to make them more durable, energy-efficient, easier to repair and recycle, and contain more recycled content.
A notable feature of the regulation is the introduction of a Digital Product Passport, providing easily accessible product information to help consumers and businesses make sustainable choices. The regulation also includes measures to prevent the destruction of unsold consumer products, particularly textiles and footwear. This agreement marks a milestone for the EU's Green Deal and Circular Economy Action Plan, promoting sustainability and resource independence.
NFT: Is NFT Winter Over? Prices Climb as Bitcoin and Ethereum Surge
The NFT market is experiencing a resurgence as top cryptocurrencies like Ethereum and Solana see a steady increase in value, largely driven by Bitcoin's weeks-long price rally. Collections such as Pudgy Penguins on Ethereum have seen a significant rise in floor price and trading volume.
The collection's floor price jumped 74% in the last week, with trading volume increasing by 394%. Other Ethereum NFT collections like Azuki and dominant ones like Bored Ape Yacht Club and CryptoPunks have also seen substantial increases in floor price.
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On the Solana blockchain, Mad Lads continues to outperform most prominent NFT projects, with its floor price reaching new peaks. This market-wide trend suggests a potential end to the NFT winter, with increased activity and value across various blockchain networks.
Luxury: Sasha Stiles NFT Poem Top Seller At Christie’s x Gucci Auction
Sasha Stiles, a traditional and web3 poet, achieved notable success at Christie’s auction house in partnership with luxury brand Gucci.
Her piece, "Repetae: Again, Again," was featured in the "Parallel Universes: from Future Frequencies to Gucci Cosmos" auction, which included works from various artists. Stiles' work, a video displaying the word "again" in red text on a black background, accompanied by an AI-generated poem, sold for three Ethereum (ETH) to an online buyer. This sale matched the price of another top item at the auction, Harvey Rayner’s "Eden Fresco."
Stiles has previously collaborated with Gucci, exploring the relationship between text and textiles in her generative work "The Loom of Languages." The success of "Repetae: Again, Again" at the auction underscores the growing recognition and value of digital art and poetry in the contemporary art market.
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AI: Chinese Tech Giant Alibaba Shows Off AI That Can ‘Animate Anyone’
Alibaba's AI research team has introduced "Animate Anyone," a groundbreaking AI model capable of transforming photos into videos with remarkable consistency and control. This technology allows for the animation of any photo, offering new possibilities for influencers and content creators.
The AI model can generate clear, temporally stable video results while maintaining the appearance of the reference character. It integrates diffusion models into a novel framework called ReferenceNet, merging detailed features via spatial attention.
The process involves moving parts of the reference image to follow the desired pose and filling in gaps to create consistent movement in each frame. Animate Anyone is drawing favorable comparisons to other popular animation tools for its refined output and near-flawless animation, making it a significant advancement in AI-driven animation technology.
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Fashion: Reebok Follows Nike Into Digital Fashion and Gaming, With an AI Twist
Reebok is venturing into the metaverse by partnering with crypto tech startup Futureverse to develop AI- and blockchain-backed games and digital experiences. This collaboration aims to extend Reebok’s brand presence into virtual realms and revolutionize fashion in the digital world.
The partnership will see the upload of numerous Reebok styles into digital wearable versions linked to NFTs, similar to initiatives by Adidas and Nike. However, Reebok is particularly focused on creating immersive virtual gaming experiences that give digital shoes a purpose.
The first project, "Reebok Impact," set to debut next year, is a digital shoe experience incorporating AI tech and on-chain digital wearables. This initiative aligns with Reebok's ethos of moving with purpose and engaging consumers in the digital evolution of products.