Near AI is set to launch an encrypted chat platform by the end of this month or early next month, as announced by Near co-founder Ilia Polosukhin on the Rollup TV podcast. The platform aims to replace existing chat tools like ChatGPT by ensuring user data privacy through end-to-end encryption. It will also allow users to control data decryption permissions, enhancing security and personalization. Additionally, the platform will serve as a developer tool, enabling new applications to access data context based on user permissions. The NEAR token, known for its "AI blockchain" capabilities, saw a 11.6% increase in the past 24 hours, reaching a price of $3.25. This surge follows the announcement and reflects the market's positive response to Near's advancements in AI and blockchain integration. The NEAR Foundation has also established an AI R&D lab to focus on developing AI developer tools, further solidifying its position in the AI blockchain space.