Welcome to Daily Zaps, your regularly-scheduled dose of AI news ⚡️

Here’s what we got for ya today:

• 🤖 Google Home adds AI

• 🔍 Reddit to test AI search results

• 🦾 Figure v2 humanoid robot

• 📉 OpenAI leadership turmoil

Let’s get right into it!

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BIG TECH

Google Home adds AI

Google is set to enhance its smart home platform with new AI-powered features, as part of its broader strategy to make Google Assistant more helpful and accessible. The company announced three new Gemini intelligence-powered features, including advanced camera intelligence for Nest cameras, natural language input for creating Google Home routines, and a smarter Google Assistant with a new voice.

These features, some of which will be paywalled behind the Nest Aware subscription, aim to simplify home automation and improve security by generating detailed captions for video footage and enabling more natural interactions with Google Assistant. These upgrades are part of Google's vision to create a more intelligent, context-aware home assistant, competing with similar efforts from Amazon and Apple.

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Reddit to test AI search results

Reddit is testing significant changes, including integrating AI into its platform and potentially introducing paywalled content. CEO Steve Huffman announced plans to implement AI-powered search results that summarize content, aiming to enhance the experience for the site's 1 billion monthly searches by helping users discover relevant communities.

This move follows Reddit's earlier announcement to use AI for community moderation. Additionally, Huffman hinted at the possibility of introducing exclusive, paid content areas on Reddit while maintaining the free version of the site. The AI-driven features are expected to roll out later this year, with a focus on ensuring they avoid issues like those faced by Google's AI.

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Figure v2 humanoid robot

The Figure 02 humanoid robot, an evolution from its predecessor Figure 01, features improvements such as more concealed wiring, signaling a shift toward production readiness. The robot is equipped with six onboard cameras for vision and hands with 10 fingers and 16 degrees of freedom, capable of lifting up to 55 pounds—an increase from the previous model's capacity.

Enhanced battery life extends the robot's runtime by over 50%. Partnerships with OpenAI and BMW allow the Figure 02 to engage in conversational interactions and be tested in automobile manufacturing.

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OpenAI leadership turmoil

OpenAI is experiencing significant leadership changes, with three key executives recently departing. Greg Brockman, OpenAI's president and co-founder, announced a sabbatical through the end of the year, while John Schulman, another co-founder, left to join OpenAI rival Anthropic. Additionally, Peter Deng, a product executive, also exited the company.

Despite the shakeup, Schulman emphasized his departure was not due to disagreements over OpenAI's alignment research, and Altman praised Schulman's contributions. The company has faced criticism for prioritizing rapid product launches over safety, highlighted by the recent disbandment of its "Superalignment" team, tasked with preventing catastrophic AI outcomes.