IN THE SPOTLIGHT (1/2)
There’s a new robot in town

And it’s coming from Figure AI.

It’s the Figure 02 humanoid robot, powered by OpenAI and packed with impressive upgrades:

• Enhanced Interaction: Equipped with built-in microphones, speakers, and custom AI models for seamless human interaction.

• Advanced Vision: Features 6 RGB cameras driven by a Vision Language Model to understand and process visual information effectively.

• Sophisticated Hands: Boasts 4th-generation hands with 16 degrees of freedom, mimicking the dexterity and force of human hands.

• Improved Battery: Comes with a custom 2.25 kWh battery, offering over 50% more energy density than its predecessor.

These enhancements enable Figure 02 to operate with fully autonomous neural network-driven placement and self-correcting learned behavior.

In a notable commercial partnership, Figure AI has collaborated with BMW Manufacturing, where Figure 02 has been successfully tested at the Spartanburg plant. It’s adept at tasks like fitting sheet metal parts and working alongside human employees.

Part of Figure’s ambitious ‘Master Plan,’ Figure 02 aims to address global labor shortages by taking on dangerous and less desirable jobs. This innovation is setting the stage for robots to become an integral part of our workforce and homes in the future.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT (2/2)

What’s new and made by Google?

The ninth Made by Google event wrapped up, and once again, AI took center stage across their latest product launches and advancements. 

Google showcased innovations that span both hardware and software, making this year’s lineup more intelligent and responsive than ever.

Introducing Gemini Live, a new feature that lets users engage in natural conversations with AI, transforming Android devices by boosting their contextual understanding and responsiveness.

Android 15, the latest version, will integrate various Gemini features across popular apps like Gmail, Maps, and YouTube, enhancing user experience across the board.

Google also unveiled the Pixel 9 series, powered by the new Tensor G4 chip, boasting over 24 hours of battery life and seven years of software and security updates. The Pixel’s camera gets a significant upgrade with AI-powered editing tools, while the Pixel Buds Pro 2 are set to receive Gemini AI capabilities for even better voice interactions.

In a move to redefine home entertainment, Google TV Streamer will replace the Chromecast, serving as a smart home hub integrated with Google Assistant and Matter devices. The Nest Thermostat will also feature Gemini AI, allowing for voice interactions and smarter home automation.

A noteworthy safety addition is the 'loss of pulse' detection feature on the Pixel Watch, which, in the event of an emergency, will automatically call medical services and share the user’s location.

With all these upgrades, Google is clearly stepping up its game in the race for AI-powered devices, pushing mainstream adoption of the most helpful AI in our everyday tech.

SUBSTRATES
What else is happening?

WEB3

• MetaMask and Mastercard pilot-launch the first debit card to spend crypto directly from the Metamask wallet, now available to select users in the EU and UK.

• Ripple starts testing its stablecoin RLUSD on the XRP Ledger and Ethereum.

• Doodles and Adidas are teaming up to sell virtual swag packs that can be redeemed for exclusive physical apparel.

• The U.S. government transfers 10,000 BTC to Coinbase Prime wallets.

• SUN.io rolls out SunPump in beta, introducing the first-ever memecoin launch platform on TRON.

• The Open Network (TON) partners with Pyth Network to deliver real-time DeFi data.

• Crypto.com becomes the first global crypto partner of the UEFA Champions League.

• US SEC subpoenas at least three crypto VCs over token deals, with names not disclosed.

AI

• Perplexity partners with Polymarket to showcase news summaries alongside real-time probability predictions from the marketplace.

• Grok-2 and Grok-2 Mini are now available in beta for Premium and Premium+ users, offering improved reasoning and image generation on X.

• Anthropic is expanding its ‘bug bounty’ program to reward coders for identifying flaws in its AI safety systems.

• NVIDIA launches James, an interactive digital human that uses emotions and humor, powered by the latest NVIDIA RTX rendering technologies.

• Anthropic releases prompt caching with Claude, reducing costs by up to 90%.

• OpenAI now allows free ChatGPT users to generate up to two images daily with DALL-E 3.

• Zoom is debuting a suite of AI-powered features, including AI Companion capabilities, virtual backgrounds, and more.

FROM THE REPOSITORY
Check this out!

• Who are the best hardware wallets in 2024? [link]

• The truth about building AI startups today by YC. [link] 🎧

• Guide to token compensation by a16z. [link]

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