Elon Musk has unveiled Grok 3, a new AI chatbot from xAI, calling it the "smartest AI on Earth" with the ability to self-correct and improve its logical accuracy. Musk described Grok 3 as "scary smart," capable of offering unexpected solutions and learning from its mistakes.

A solo Bitcoin miner successfully mined block 883,181 and earned 3.158 BTC, worth about $310,000, despite the tough competition from large mining operations. Experts believe the miner used CKPOOL or a Bitaxe device, highlighting the rare but possible success of solo mining.

MicroStrategy has rebranded to "Strategy" to reflect its focus on Bitcoin, moving away from its business analytics roots. Despite growing its Bitcoin holdings, the company reported a $670.8 million quarterly loss but remains optimistic about future growth.

Australia has banned the use of DeepSeek, a Chinese-developed AI chatbot, on government devices due to security concerns over privacy and malware risks. The decision follows similar actions by other countries and reflects growing caution about foreign technologies.

FTX will begin repaying small creditors (claims under $50,000) in the Bahamas on February 18, 2025, with 9% annual interest on their claims. Creditors outside the Bahamas will receive their payouts starting by March 4, 2025.

Nicolas Cage has expressed concerns about AI replacing human creativity in filmmaking, warning against its use to manipulate performances. While some, like Tom Hanks, see AI as a way to extend actors' careers, the debate continues to grow in Hollywood, with critical opinions on AI's role in altering films.

"Bitcoin Jesus" Roger Ver has appealed to Donald Trump for help in avoiding extradition to the U.S. after being charged with tax evasion linked to cryptocurrency transactions. Elon Musk initially hinted at a possible pardon but later reversed his stance, while Trump has yet to comment on the matter.

Ross Ulbricht, founder of Silk Road, was granted a full pardon by President Trump after 11 years in prison. He expressed gratitude for his release and is now focused on reuniting with his family and rebuilding his life.

OpenAI launched a new feature called Operator, which allows AI to perform real-time online tasks like booking flights and ordering groceries, using a cloud-based browser. However, it is currently available only to Pro subscribers for $200 per month, sparking concerns about its exclusivity and privacy issues.

Three Nigerian fraudsters are accused as the perpetrators of an elaborate scam, using AI-generated images of Brad Pitt to trick a French woman into sending €830,000. The scam is part of a larger wave of cybercrime involving AI and deepfake technology.